Illinois State Senator Donne Trotter touts economic impact of Leucadia clean coal energy facility, promotes job opportunities it will bring to south Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Senator Donne Trotter (D – Chicago) pushed a measure through the Senate earlier today that gives the green light to begin construction of a clean coal energy facility in southeast Chicago on the Calumet River.

The clean coal project will create an estimated 1,100 construction jobs as well as 200 full-time jobs once construction is complete. The project’s developer, Leucadia Energy, projects $1 billion in total consumer savings rather than increased costs to consumers which some argue is a possibility.

"The clean energy plant will serve as a major economic engine for Chicago’s southeast side," Trotter explained. "It will create over a thousand job opportunities during construction and provide hundreds of full-time jobs for Chicago residents. This is a step in the right direction to ensure that Illinois takes the lead in clean coal technology. The major benefits outweigh any possible costs for this project."

Senate Bill 3388 guarantees a market for the natural gas generated by the plant. It requires electric utilities and alternative retail electric suppliers to enter into 30-year contracts with the clean coal facility to use its energy production.

The plant will use a gasification process utilizing a mix of Illinois coal and petroleum coke to produce substitute natural gas (SNG) to be sold to Illinois gas utilities. The facility will be built on a brownfield site that is the former location if Republic Steel and LTV Coke.

"1.5 billion tons of our state’s coal will be put to use and the demand for its production will increase substantially down the road," Trotter added. "The facility will sequester the carbon dioxide produced that would otherwise be emitted into the air. This will serve as a major health benefit and enhance the quality of the air around the facility."

The measure has been sent to the governor where it awaits his approval before it is signed into law.