By Associated Press
Washington, D.C. – US SEN. DICK DURBIN SAYS AN APPARENT $500 MILLION MATH ERROR BY THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT PROVES THAT ITS SHELVING OF THE FUTUREGEN PLANT PLANNED FOR MATTOON WAS FLAWED.
A DURBIN SPOKESMAN SAYS CONGRESSIONAL AUDITORS HAVE FOUND THAT THE DEPARTMENT MADE THE GOOF WHEN IT WITHDREW ITS SUPPORT LAST YEAR FROM THE EXPERIMENTAL-LOW EMISSION, COAL FIRED POWER PLANT SHORTLY AFTER THE PROJECT WAS SITED IN ILLINOIS. THE ERROR LED THE DEPARTMENT TO MISTAKENLY SAY FUTUREGEN HAD NEARLY DOUBLED IN COST.
FUTUREGEN'S DEVELOPERS, INCLUDING A CONSORTIUM OF BIG ENERGY AND
UTILITY COMPANIES, HAD PICKED MATTOON IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS AS
FUTUREGEN'S WOULD-BE SITE. DURBIN'S SAYS REVELATION OF THE MATH ERROR PROVES HIS
SUSPICIONS THAT THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT'S LOGIC AND MATH BOTH WERE WRONG.
FUTUREGEN WOULD BURN COAL FOR POWER BUT STORE EMISSIONS OF THE
GREENHOUSE GAS CARBON DIOXIDE UNDERGROUND.
