Tenaska Representative Speaks to Christian County Economic Development Corporation
June 23, 2009

Today, Tenaska Project Manager Dan Culver gave an update on the latest development progress for the Taylorville Energy Center (TEC) to the board members of the Christian County Economic Development Corporation at their regular meeting in Pana, Ill.

In his presentation, Culver reported that Illinois’ Clean Coal Portfolio Standard Law (ICCPSL), which was signed into law in January, jumpstarted engineering and design activities for TEC. ICCPSL, he said, gave TEC the ability to assure financial institutions that the project will have long-term customers. However, before the project can become a reality, the developers must conduct a Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) study and facility cost report. According to ICCPSL, TEC must submit a facility cost report to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for its comment, and to the General Assembly for final approval. Since ICCPSL was passed, Tenaska has hired two engineering firms and a construction firm to conduct the FEED study and prepare the facility cost report. The objective is to give the report to the ICC and General Assembly in the spring of 2010 and obtain final approval.

Jack Brown, TEC’s community representative, attended the meeting with Culver. They updated the group on the status of TEC’s community office, which is located in the old Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Offices at 215 S. Washington St. in Taylorville.

Culver also said Tenaska had applied for and was hopeful that it would receive a loan guarantee from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for coal projects that capture carbon dioxide. In the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. government essentially was given the ability to back loans for advanced clean energy projects to help keep interest rates low and lessen the overall cost of the projects. A loan guarantee would help ensure the price of electricity produced by the cutting-edge facility remain reasonable for Illinois ratepayers.

Tenaska Presents Donation to Taylorville Public Schools Foundation
June 9, 2009

Representatives of the Taylorville Energy Center (TEC) presented a $1,000 donation to the Taylorville Public Schools Foundation today. Foundation representatives President Alta Himstedt, Board Members Scott McClure and Greg Brotherton, and Dr. Gregg Fuerstenau, superintendant for Taylorville Public Schools, accepted the donation on behalf of the school system.

The donation will be used to support the Foundation’s grants program which is used to support innovative classroom programs. Teachers apply for the funds.

Tenaska, managing partner for TEC, and its partners have a history of supporting education in the communities in which they do business. In 2000, Tenaska began a college scholarship program for graduating high school seniors in school districts near the plants it operates. Today, Tenaska has awarded more than $308,000 to 465 students across the nation.