Community reacts of FutureGen rejection

MATTOON, Ill. (WTHI) - For several years, the community of Mattoon, Illinois had its eyes set on FutureGen.

A project that would build a new coal power plant near Mattoon and storing the carbon dioxide gas beneath the ground, bringing hundreds of jobs to the area.

The Coles County community had high hopes until last week.

"It's kind of like getting a slap in the face you know we're going to give you this, but now were going to give you this instead," community member and business owner Jeff Prior said.

The Department of Energy revised the plan as FutureGen 2.0. The new plans called for modifying an old power plant across the state in Meredosia, Illinios and just store the carbon emissions in Mattoon.

Coles Together President Angela Griffin sent a letter to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Wednesday and said Coles County was out of the project

"This isn't something we want to be a partner in, this isn't something we originally agreed to when we decided to pursue and host FutureGen," Coles County President Angela Griffin said. "By taking the power plant out of the mix, and all of the research and science, taking that out of it takes out the majority of the economic impact in our community."

Instead of hundreds of jobs FutureGen 2.0 called for roughly 75 jobs in Mattoon. A number even Griffin said they couldn't really count on from the D.O.E.

"To many times we've put stock into what they've told us only to be let down," Griffin said. "It was just asking to much of our community and the faith is not there and those numbers did not provide us with any level of comfort"

However, Coles Together is taking comfort in knowing the community is backing them in their decision; especially those who invested their time and more importantly their money.

"Many of them have said we're not going to demand our money back if you're going to do something meaningful, we want our money back if you pursue FutureGen 2.0 because that is not what we signed on for," Griffin said.

Coles Together said they are in the process of buying the land back. Once that happens, they said they will begin marketing the land and site again.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said he's disappointed Mattoon wants out of the FutureGen project. He said a number of other towns have expressed interest in taking Mattoon's place to store the carbon dioxide gas.