Taylorville Rally for Jobs!

More than 300 Christian County, Illinois, residents urge Illinois legislators to “Vote Yes” on for the Taylorville Energy Center at a rally on Nov. 16, 2010. The clean coal project with 50 percent carbon dioxide capture will produce 2,500 construction jobs and hundreds of plant and coal mining jobs in central Illinois.

More than 300 Christian County residents sign petitions and pick up signs and buttons to display at the rally asking legislators to “Vote Yes” on the Taylorville Energy Center in Taylorville on Nov. 16.

Christian County residents urge Illinois legislative leaders to “Vote Yes on the Taylorville Energy Center”.

Project supporters bearing signs flood the Taylorville High School cafeteria as the rally approaches start time.

Mayor Steven Sipes of Pana speaks of the importance of new jobs to the region during the rally. Mt. Auburn Mayor Betty Rankin also spoke about recent job losses and the need for new employment.

Local business leader and Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Board Member Eric Kayle announces central Illinois businesses stand ready to provide supplies and services to the Taylorville Energy Center for decades.

Rally attendees shout “Jobs Here! Jobs Now!” as speakers line up one after another to send a strong message to Illinois legislators – Vote yes!.

The crowd listens as Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton reads letters of support from other municipalities and even a previous opponent.

A variety of speakers encouraged a crowded room to contact legislators across the state in support of the Taylorville Energy Center.

Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton wraps up the rally with an emotional plea for jobs and economic survival -- NOW!

The rally ended with lively chants of “Jobs Here! Jobs Now!” More than 40 area leaders traveled to Springfield on Nov. 17 to remind legislators how many jobs are on the line.

Jobs Rally Shows Strong Support for Taylorville Energy Center

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades on Sunday hosted a rally for jobs to promote the proposed Taylorville Energy Center coal-gasification project in Taylorville.

The event featured State Rep. Betsy Hannig, D-Litchfield, and Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion; Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton; Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan; and Tenaska's Bill Braudt.

Tenaska representatives distributed project hats and t-shirts to an enthusiastic crowd.

Allan Lauher, business representative for IUPAT District Council 58, said the rally was held to express support for a project that will bring thousands of union jobs to the Taylorville area, promote central Illinois coal mining, and to urge the General Assembly to approve the project in November.

The event was covered by local media, including WICS-TV: http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_2817.shtml

Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton was one of several local officials who urged the General Assembly to approve the Taylorville Energy Center.

Teneska's Bill Braudt explains the Taylorville Energy Center will create more than 2,500 jobs during its four-year construction phase.