FutureGen closer to becoming reality

MATTOON, ILL (WTHI) - Plans for FutureGen and hundreds of new jobs may be closer to becoming reality.

This week, President Barack Obama addressed the nation with his plans to go green.

In the 1,073-page stimulus plan there is a small section for fossil energy research. This little bit of print has residents of Mattoon, Ill. hoping to win big.

"Were hopefull that in the four billion plus over three different line items that part of that will be for futuregen," Anthony Pleasant with Coles County Economic Development said.

FutureGen is a shovel ready coal gasification plant.

"It will be a 275-mega-watt power plant that will gasify coal and sequester the carbon dioxide which is what makes it special," said Pleasant.

The Bush Administration backed the clean coal plant until the project became too expensive and the Department of Energy wanted out.

Residents living here in Mattoon kept fighting on. So far they've raised around three million dollars and secured 440 acres of land.

Ninety-four-year-old Gene Bauer believes in the project so much he signs over his social security check each month to support the project.

"It will give us a supply an extra supply of electricity in the America, which we need," said Bauer.

It is community support like this that people in Mattoon hope Obama will recognizes and act upon.

Construction alone for FutureGen could bring in around 2,000 new jobs.