U.s. congressman Rodney davis proudly representing the 13th district of illinois

U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), John Shimkus (R-Ill.) and Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) today expressed concern over the U.S. Department of Energy’s decision to end federal funding for FutureGen, a public-private project to retrofit a coal-fired power plant in Meredosia, Ill.

"This week's announcement by the DOE to abandon FutureGen is another example of wasted stimulus funds and another failed attempt to create 'shovel-ready' projects," said Davis. "The administration has failed the people of Central Illinois by wasting hundreds of millions of dollars invested by taxpayers and the private sector. Instead of making it more difficult for companies to create good-paying, energy jobs, the administration should support policies that help companies working to ensure coal remains a viable source of energy for the future."

“By the Obama Administration’s own estimates, compliance with EPA’s carbon rules hinges on the widespread adoption of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology by coal-fired power plants,” said Shimkus. “It’s incomprehensible that the Administration is, with one hand, requiring coal plants to use CCS while, with the other hand, pulling the plug on a plant designed to demonstrate the technology.”

“What is clear from DOE’s determination that the FutureGen project is no longer viable is that the Obama administration’s stimulus bill has failed yet another energy company and the Central Illinois families who were depending on long term, good-paying jobs.” said Schock. “What is also clear is that the administration’s regulatory hostilities to coal-fired power have made it more difficult for investors to regard opportunities like FutureGen as either viable or profitable.”