[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called the announcement of a competitive site selection process for FutureGen 2.0 an exciting opportunity for Illinois communities to be on the forefront of clean coal research and technology. Earlier today, the FutureGen Industrial Alliance announced details of a process that will lead to the selection of an Illinois site for the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) collected at an Ameren Energy Resources power plant in Meredosia, Illinois. The FutureGen 2.0 project and pipeline network is expected to bring 1,000 jobs to downstate Illinois and another 1,000 jobs for suppliers across the state.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Illinois communities to participate in a project that will put our state and our nation at the forefront of clean coal technology,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “Under this competitive process, interested communities that meet the selection criteria will be considered by the DOE to host the CO2 storage hub, visitor’s center, research site and training facility. These facilities will create economic development, provide good-paying jobs and attract researchers and visitors from around the world.”

Over the past few weeks, the Department of Energy has been contacted by more than two dozen Illinois communities interested in hosting the storage site, which will include a geologic sequestration research complex, craft labor training center, and a visitor center. Within the next few days, these communities will be contacted by the FutureGen Industrial Alliance which is responsible for conducting the site selection. Guidance for communities can be found here.

Following the site selection, expected to occur in early 2011, the Alliance will prepare detailed environmental and technical information for the selected site that will be provided to the Department of Energy for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. On September 28, Durbin commended the Department of Energy for signing final cooperative agreements with the FutureGen Industrial Alliance and Ameren Energy Resources. These agreements formally committed $1 billion in Recovery Act funding to build FutureGen 2.0 in Illinois.