Durbin Statement on Release of FutureGen Record of Decision

From the Office of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

July 14, 2009 - [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Department of Energy (DOE) issued the Record of Decision – a final public decision that certifies the project meets environmental requirements – for FutureGen.

“Issuing the Record of Decision is a clear signal of the Department of Energy’s commitment to seeing FutureGen move forward at Mattoon. While it has been over a year and a half since we first asked for this important step to be taken, I am encouraged by the substantial progress of negotiations between the Obama Administration and the FutureGen Alliance in just the last few months.

“FutureGen represents an opportunity for the United States to take the lead on research to develop important technology that will reduce emissions from coal-fueled power plants. I look forward to working with the Department of Energy, under the leadership of Secretary Steven Chu, and the FutureGen Alliance as we take the first steps toward making this project a reality.”

The Record of Decision and the cooperative agreement signed on June 12th by DOE and the FutureGen Alliance allow the Alliance to proceed with site-specific activities for the project. According to the DOE, over the next eight to ten months, the Alliance will complete a preliminary design, refine its cost estimate, develop a funding plan, expand the sponsorship group, and, if needed, conduct additional subsurface characterization.