(October 9, 2007)--Regional support is growing for the Illinois bid for a cutting-edge, coal-powered plant known as FutureGen.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell announced Tuesday his state is solidly behind Illinois in the competition with Texas for the plant.

Pennsylvania officials say having the plant in the Midwest could make it easier to replicate the technology in their state.

The $1.5 billion project will minimize air pollution by storing emissions underground.

Developers are considering sites in Mattoon and Tuscola, Ill.

Illinois is offering $82 million worth of incentives for the project as well as protection liability due to accidents.

Texas is backing possible sites in Jewett in Central Texas and Odessa in West Texas, but not to the tune of $80 million.

FutureGen would be a prototype plant designed to produce almost no emissions.

Coal and power companies and the US Energy Department are jointly developing the plant.

The carbon dioxide it generates would be stored underground, although some environmentalists question whether the technology is reliable.

A study released late last month projects that a proposed experimental coal-fired power plant would create 360 permanent jobs and almost $20 million a year in wages.

Southern Illinois University conducted the study.

It projected the plant would employ 150 people, and indirectly create another 210 jobs.

According to the study, the plant also would create another 1,300 construction jobs while it's being built.

Click Here For Future-Gen Web Site

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