Energy Dept. to fund FutureGen project

WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Energy Department said Friday it will spend $1 billion to fund a coal development project with the FutureGen Alliance.

The federal department said its funding for the project would come from federal stimulus funds, while FutureGen will provide $600 million more in funds for the energy project in east-central Illinois, the St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch said.

The FutureGen Alliance represents a group of energy businesses working together to create a more efficient and eco-friendly coal-fueled power plant.

The Post-Dispatch said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., praised the agreement between the partnership and the Energy Department that should lead to finalized design work and funding plans this year.

"The agreement that was reached by the Department of Energy and the FutureGen Alliance is an historic moment for both our state and our country," Durbin said.

"In my time in Congress, I can't recall a project that has greater scientific and practical significance than FutureGen, not to mention the enormous economic benefit it will have in Illinois," the senator added.