Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to build coal gasification plant in Illinois
7:39 PM, Aug 2, 2011
Mt. Vernon, IL (KSDK) – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation Tuesday that will help develop a coal gasification facility in southern Illinois. The creation of the state-of-the-art facility is said to create 1,650 jobs and reduce carbon emissions by around 90 percent.
“We must continue to do everything we can to strengthen the state’s ongoing economic recovery through projects that create jobs while safeguarding the environment and protecting consumers,” said Quinn.
Senate Bill 2169 provides the framework for Power Holdings LLC to build the $2.3 billion facility in Jefferson County. It will convert coal to pipeline-quality synthesis natural gas. Customers will be protected by the new law because it will utilize a pricing formula to prevent volatile swings in the cost of heating homes with natural gas.
An active air quality permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has already been issued to Power Holdings, and they expect use at least four million tons of Illinois coal per year.
The legislation takes effect immediately, and has been modified from a previous bill that was considered earlier this year, which included input from the Governor, the Citizens Utility Board, and other stakeholders.
Power Holdings will need to prove to state regulators that construction and carbon sequestration costs, as well as operating expenses are reasonable through annual reports and reviews. Pricing based on these costs will be guaranteed for 10 years.
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Governor Signs Bill to Allow Power Holdings Project To Move Forward
8/3/11 @ 11:56:39 am
A new law will bring jobs to South Central Illinois and cleaner air as well. Governor Pat Quinn came to Mt. Vernon to sign the measure for the long awaited Power Holdings project.
The bill will help create a two-point-three billion dollar coal gasification facility in Jefferson County that will create over 1,600 jobs. The Power Holdings plant will convert coal into natural gas for the state. It is expected to generate more than ten-billion dollars in economic activity.
Governor Quinn says this bill will create jobs, protect the middle class, and rely less on foreign natural gas supplier. He described the state as a family, where no one is left out, and everyone is in. He also states the bill will respect nature, with reducing carbon emissions by 90-percent.
Power Holdings has obtained a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. CEO Bob Gilman says he is pleased with the state of Illinois, and the signing of this bill. “With the signing of this bill today, we are still scheduled to break ground in January of next year”, says Gilman.
Senator John O. Jones thanks those who couldn’t witness the historical event. He says jobs isn’t about one particular area, but about the region and its people. He says creating jobs in Illinois will keep kids in the state. ”These kind of jobs will keep our kids at home. They get their education, and they’ll be able to go to work at facilities like Power Holdings and and construction jobs and be able to stay at home”, says Jones.
House Representative John Cavaletto says he opposed the bill at first, but is very happy with the outcome. He says without coal, he wouldn’t be here today. ”My father was a coal miner. He wasn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty, and there’s gonna be a lot of people here who go to work at this facility in the next few years who are gonna get their hands dirty, and you know, it’s money, and we’re proud of it”, says Cavaletto.
The legislation will take effect immediately. The law includes significant customer protection, including a rate cap and savings back to customers.
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