[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was briefed today on the status of FutureGen by the Chairman of the FutureGen Alliance, Paul Thompson, the President and CEO of the FutureGen Alliance, Mike Mudd, and various members of the Alliance Board of Directors.

“We have been able to keep the concept of FutureGen alive for almost a year,” said Durbin. “This morning I met with the FutureGen Alliance. They are still committed to this project and I am as well. We are going to work hard to make sure that the new Secretary of Energy and the new Administration make an early commitment to FutureGen so we can move forward. This is not only a critically important project for Illinois coal, this is important for the nation's energy future and the environment.”

Durbin and the FutureGen Alliance members were joined by Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) and representatives from the offices of Congressmen Tim Johnson (R-IL) and Jerry Costello (D-IL) and the State of Illinois in discussions about moving forward with FutureGen under the next Administration.

Since the Department of Energy began exploring alternatives to FutureGen, Durbin and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation have pursued several legislative options in order to keep the project alive. Shortly after the announcement by the DOE, Durbin wrote to the White House to inform the President of his intention to hold all DOE nominations until FutureGen project moved forward. Durbin has held three nominations this year.