Six bid for FutureGen 2.0 storage site

The competition to host the carbon dioxide (CO2) storage site for the FutureGen 2.0 project moved to the next phase as six bidders submitted full proposals. The storage site will receive and store CO2 emissions from an upgraded power plant in Meredosia, Ill., and will also host CCS research, education and training, and visitors’ facilities.

The six bidders and associated communities are:

• City of Quincy
• Christian County Generation, LLC and Christian County
• Douglas County, the City of Tuscola, and other partners
• Morgan County
• Pike County
• Willow Grove Carbon Solutions, LLC, Fayette County, and City of Vandalia

Interest in hosting the site was substantial. Over the past six weeks, the Alliance provided a steady stream of information to communities interested in hosting the project. This included a general guidance package, a formal request for proposals, a bidder’s meeting, and subsequent opportunity for a web-based Q&A dialogue. Each step in the process gave communities an opportunity to gain more information and assess, for themselves, whether the project objectives and their prospective site(s) were a match. This led to a natural narrowing of the field of competitors by yesterday’s deadline for full proposals.

“I am very pleased we have received six formal proposals for the CO2 storage site,” said Ken Humphreys, chief executive officer of the FutureGen Alliance. “Today’s announcement is another step forward for FutureGen and for Illinois communities seeking jobs, greater economic opportunity, and a highly visible role in advancing clean energy technology. Our team of scientific and engineering experts has already begun review of these proposals and we look forward to making an announcement on the final site in early 2011. We are right on schedule.”

Humphreys said the proposals will be evaluated on a number of criteria including geologic formation attributes, site availability, protection of human health and safety and the environment, cost minimization, and the ability to meet the design and construction schedule. Local community support for the CO2 storage site also will be critical. The Request for Site Proposals, which includes the evaluation criteria, can be found at www.FutureGenAlliance.org.

FutureGen 2.0 is supported by a $1 billion commitment in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.