7/14/11 @ 5:58:49 pm
Cavaletto says he’s very optimistic after the Governor signed a similar bill on Wednesday for construction of a coal gasification plant in Chicago. “It appears the Governor will be on a bill signing tour in the next few weeks and we’re hoping he will be in Southern Illinois to sign the bill for Power Holdings. The coal in the ground is being leased, the air permits have already been issued, and they have a deadline of January first to break ground,” Cavaletto said. He adds the Jefferson County project is much further along than the Chicago project now approved by the Governor.
Jones says he can’t see any reason why Quinn won’t sign the bill. “We did everything he asked us to do last fall in his veto,” he says. “Both the newly-approved Leucadia plant in Chicago and Power Holdings are nearly identical bills, so hopefully he will sign it.” If Power Holdings does not start construction by February 2012, the bill is null and void. It is estimated that the Power Holdings plant would create 300 to 400 coal mining jobs once it is in operation, along with 800 to 900 construction jobs to build the facility.
Jones says the Leucadia plant in Chicago will also be good news for southern Illinois coal. Despite their initial vetoes, both plants were given new life when legislation requiring utility companies to buy synthetic natural gas was sent back to the Governor in the spring legislative session.
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