Schakowsky Statement on FutureGen Project

SCHAKOWSKY STATEMENT ON FUTUREGEN PROJECT

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, delivered the following opening remarks today during an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Department of Energy's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget proposal. Congresswoman Schakowsky questioned Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman for his last minute decision to scrap the FutureGen project planned for Mattoon, Illinois. The FutureGen project, a revolutionary high-tech coal power plant with near-zero emissions, was cancelled last week after the Energy Department cited increased costs.

"I would like to use my time this morning to address the incredible decision last week by the Department of Energy to renege on its commitment to build and operate the world's first coal-fueled, near-zero emissions power plant in Mattoon, Illinois.

During his State of the Union address in 2003, the President announced his intention to build the FutureGen plant. As recently as November 30, this project remained on track as Secretary Bodman wrote to my colleague Representative Tim Johnson that the Department of Energy was committed to selecting a site by the "end of December 2007....

On December 18, Mattoon, Illinios was officially awarded the FutureGen project. Over the last five years, the city of Mattoon and the state of Illinois has worked tirelessly and spent millions of dollars to secure the FutureGen project.

You can understand, Mr. Secretary, why my colleagues from the Illinois delegation and I were outraged to hear you tell us last week that the Department of Energy was going to renege on their agreement to build the plant in Mattoon. To be frank, the state of Illinois believes a bait and switch has been pulled.

It is unbelievable that while the President was reiterating his commitment to invest in "new technologies that can produce power from coal with significantly lower carbon emissions... during last week's State of the Union Address, you were acting to jettison FutureGen.

The FutureGen plant in Mattoon represented the President's commitment. You need to explain Mr. Secretary, the Department of Energy's 11th hour decision to abandon Mattoon, its citizens and delay the FutureGen project indefinitely when the need for the technology is so clear.

Again, thank you Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time....