Durbin upset with planned FutureGen appeal

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Sen. Dick Durbin has criticized a legal challenge expected by Commonwealth Edison and other power suppliers against a state-approved plan to help finance the FutureGen project by charging electricity customers.

Durbin on Thursday said in a statement that ComEd parent company Exelon was part of FutureGen until January and had talked up its value.

ComEd and the Illinois Competitive Energy Association have filed notices with the Illinois Appellate Court. They plan to challenge the surcharge the Illinois Commerce Commission approved in December.

Commerce Commission spokeswoman Beth Bosch says the agency knows about the appeals but hasn't seen arguments.

FutureGen has been the subject of political and financial difficulties for years. It was initially proposed as a new power plant. But now the project will retrofit a western Illinois coal-fired plant.