FutureGen returns 440 acres to Mattoon

MATTOON, Ill. (WTHI) - After working for years to build the FutureGen near zero emissions clean coal facility on a site in Mattoon, the FutureGen Alliance has officially returned the 440 acres it acquired to the community.

During the pursuit of the original FutureGen project, Coles Together and the City of Mattoon assembled a real estate package to accommodate the construction of a 275MW clean coal power plant and the subsurface storage of the carbon dioxide it would emit.

When the project was awarded to Mattoon, it is estimated tens of millions of dollars were spent to survey, engineer, study, characterize, and analyze the site’s features and the project’s impacts to the environment.

FutureGen eventually purchased the site with financial support from businesses and citizens in the community. However, when unexpected changes to the project were announced with FutureGen 2.0, the decision was made to request the site be returned to the community.

According to Angela Griffin, President of Coles Together, the site provides many opportunities for development of similar projects. “Having the site in our possession, along with the information assembled from the years’ of study will allow us to swiftly and easily move forward with a project as revolutionary and forward-looking as the original FutureGen project,” said Griffin. That doesn’t mean Griffin rejects the merits of FutureGen 2.0. “Quite the contrary” she stated. “The FutureGen program continues to be an important initiative in advancing clean coal technology to address the challenges of climate change, national security, and the economy. We believe 2.0 should move forward and Illinois is the best place for that to happen. Additionally, the FutureGen Alliance member companies were reliable and honest with the citizens of Mattoon and will be similarly highly regarded wherever they land in Illinois.”

John Inyart, Chairman of the Board at Coles Together stated the organization has been busy showing the site to companies interested in developing projects similar to the original FutureGen project. “Now that the land is in our possession, attracting a new project will be less complicated” said Inyart. And, it appears to be going well. “We have a handful of serious leads” said Griffin, “each of which could bring meaningful employment and economic development to the community. While we lament the loss of FutureGen, we believe the opportunities that have surfaced as a result of the work at the site and our exposure across many industries will prove to be beneficial”.

In an effort to provide as much information as possible about the status of the site and Coles Together’s plans to continue to market and develop the site, an informational meeting will be held on November 8 at 9:00 a.m. at Pagliacci’s Restaurant for neighbors near the site and members of the community.

Inyart believes community support was fundamental to the successful recruitment of FutureGen and knows it will also be essential in the development of new economic development projects at the site. “All of the FutureGen milestones were reached with the support of the community” said Inyart, “particularly when businesses and individuals donated to help complete the land purchase.”

In that regard, Coles Together will also provide an update to the businesses and individuals who contributed to the FutureGen project. “We realize donations were made to support FutureGen and it is important to understand each donor’s intentions as we move forward” Inyart said. However, he stated many donors have already expressed their desire for the funds to be used to recruit economic development projects to the county.