For Release: Thursday, October 6, 2005
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

* MEDIA ADVISORY *

COSTELLO AND SHIMKUS SPONSOR UPDATE FOR LOCAL LEADERS ON FUTUREGEN DEVELOPMENTS

Washington - U.S. Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) will host a meeting to brief local leaders on developments with the FutureGen project on Saturday, October 8, from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., at John A. Logan College in Carterville.  There will be a media availability from 9:40 - 10:00 a.m. in conference room H-122 of the Workforce Development Building at John A. Logan.  

The FutureGen project seeks to build an advanced clean coal power plant with emissions equal to those of natural gas.  Numerous state and local officials will also be on hand to hear from the Congressmen and John Mead of the Coal Center at Southern Illinois University and Bill Hoback of the Office of Coal Development, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.  

Costello is a senior Democrat on the House Science Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  He is a leader on clean coal issues, including adding provisions to this year's energy bill to enhance clean coal research and demonstration projects. 

Shimkus is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and has supported FutureGen since its announcement by President Bush.  He supported clean coal technology and the inclusion of National Coal Centers for Excellence in the energy bill.

Shimkus is departing Saturday on a Congressional delegation trip to Lithuania and will not be able to personally attend.  He will be represented at the event by two senior staffers.

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