Legislation to aid coal plant in Taylorville fails
Opponents argue Tenaska facility could raise rates
by MIKE RIOPELL, H&R Springfield Bureau Writer

June 1, 2008 – SPRINGFIELD - A bid by the state to help a developer build a $2 billion power plant in Taylorville failed Saturday. Lawmakers rejected a proposal that could have helped developer Tenaska build a state-of-the-art plant that uses coal cleanly to produce electricity.

The Nebraska-based developer has been trying to get lawmakers to help them get a loan for the Taylorville Energy Center for more than a year without success.

Saturday’s proposal was the latest attempt, but it failed in the Illinois House 50-51, with 60 votes needed for approval.

Supporters plugged the plant as the future of the coal industry. The market for Illinois coal has fallen in recent years as environmental standards have become tighter, so a plant that used coal cleanly could help.

Susan Hedman of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office argued that the Tenaska plant’s new technology needed some government help to get going.

"We can be assured the nuclear industry will eat the coal industry’s lunch," Hedman said.
Opponents, though, argued that the proposal was rushed, being introduced for votes on the last day of lawmakers’ spring session. They also said the technology was too experimental and could lead to higher electric rates.

Lawmakers could have been skittish to deal with such an issue after spending much of last year dealing with public outrage over high electric rates.

Earlier this year, Tenaska threatened to pull the project out of Illinois if they didn’t get legislative approval this year. They didn’t immediately comment after the failed vote Saturday.

The legislation is Senate Bill 1987.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865.
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