Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson is meeting today with State of Illinois officials and the Illinois Congressional delegation as part of a coordinated effort to advance the FutureGen coal plant in Illinois. 

   “We are working to ensure that everybody’s on the same page in trying to secure this promising development where it belongs,” Rep. Johnson said. “Whatever resources and influence we can bring to this project, we will. We also have a strong interest in making sure that the merits and demerits of each of the respective sites are scrutinized impartially.” 

   Rep. Johnson will be meeting with Jack Lavin, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, state coal development officials and the entire Illinois Congressional delegation. Rep. Johnson, Rep. Jerry Costello and Rep. Shimkus, along with Sens. Durbin and Obama will be available to the media in the Hall of Columns on the first floor of the Capitol after the noon meeting in H-122. 

   The U.S. Department of Energy and the FutureGen Alliance earlier this week announced four finalists for the FutureGen coal plant, two of which are in Illinois. Both those finalists, in Tuscola and Mattoon, are in Rep. Johnson’s 15^th Congressional District. 

   “I remain hopeful that a thoughtful examination of all criteria will put great emphasis on all that central Illinois offers this nascent technology, a technology that offers such promise for our economy, our environment and our energy independence,” Rep. Johnson said. “From the high BTU coal reserves, the transportation network, the geology, to the Midwestern work ethic we pride ourselves on, our sites are at the top of my list and should be on everyone else’s too.”

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