Tenaska gets some help from House vote
Plan would require utilities to buy from Taylorville coal plant
BY MIKE RIOPELL, DECATUR HERALD-REVIEW

July 17, 2008 – SPRINGFIELD - Lawmakers showed an interest Wednesday in helping build a massive coal power plant in Taylorville, but the project is still far from seeing ground broken. The Illinois House voted Wednesday to approve a plan that could help Nebraska-based developer Tenaska get financing for the proposed $2.5 billion Taylorville Energy Center.
The plant would use coal and create relatively little pollution, so it’s seen as a potential big help to the state’s floundering coal industry.

The House’s plan, approved by an 86-5 vote, would require utilities to buy the plant’s electricity, therefore virtually ensuring it’d make money in the future. But the Senate needs to approve the plan, as well, before construction could begin, and they don’t plan on coming back for a while.

“We adjourned until November,” said Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago.

Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, said he hoped the legislation would get attention then. “The Senate passed similar legislation in May, and I’m looking forward to finalizing all the details when we return for the fall veto session in November,” Watson said.

Even if the Senate approved the legislation when they returned to Springfield, Tenaska would have to complete a year-long study to assure power created by the plant would be inexpensive enough to make the project feasible.

After the study, lawmakers would have to approve the project yet again and could reject the plant if they thought electricity would be too costly. If the final approval came, the plant likely could take three more years to build. Still, supporters said building the plant is important, because if it isn’t built, a chance to use Illinois’ vast reserves of coal in a way that doesn’t pollute much could be lost.

“We will, quite frankly, see the green movement pass Illinois by,” said state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion.

Bart Ford, a vice president with Tenaska, said the legislation could help the project go forward, even if it wasn”t exactly what the developer wanted.

“This legislation presented several complex issues and required extensive compromise,” he said.
The Tenaska project is one of several Illinois coal power plants in various stages of development. Construction has begun on a large plant in Washington County.

A facility that would turn coal into natural gas is slated for Decatur if appropriate funding arrives. The FutureGen project originally planned for Mattoon is stalled with its long-term future unclear.
The legislation approved Wednesday is Senate Bill 1987.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865.
Copyright, 2008, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL



<<< back