Creates Illinois Jobs and Expands the Clean Energy Industry

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Senator Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) passed legislation out of the General Assembly Tuesday to green light the Leucadia Project. Governor Pat Quinn vetoed the initial legislation for this project on March 14. Senate Bill 1533 addresses the consumer protection concerns the governor had and it authorizes the creation Leucadia Clean Coal Energy Facility in southeast Chicago on the Calumet River.

"This project will make Illinois a leader in the clean energy field, which is truly an industry of the future," said Senator Trotter. "Even though the governor vetoed this project two months ago we didn’t give up on the job opportunities, lower energy rates and a cleaner environment the project will provide in Illinois."

Chicago has lost thousands of jobs in recent years and the Leucadia Project will bring meaningful employment back to the city. The Leucadia Project will create approximately 1,100 construction jobs as well as 220 permanent local jobs at the plant and additional jobs in the surrounding community once construction was completed. In addition, it will increase the demand for coal throughout the state leading to hundreds more jobs for coal mines in central and southern Illinois.

The plant will use a gasification process that mixes of Illinois coal and petroleum coke to produce substitute natural gas (SNG) to be sold to Illinois gas utilities. A billion and a half tons of Illinois coal will be put to use with this project. As Illinois strives to be more environmentally-conscious, this facility will also sequestered the carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted into the air. Having this plant in place will serve as a major health benefit and enhancement the quality of the air around the facility.