The FutureGen Alliance, a partnership of the U.S. Department of Energy and a group of coal and electric utility companies, has selected 12 sites as potential locations for the $1 billion FutureGen power plant. FutureGen will be a prototype power plant that can produce electricity, hydrogen and chemical feed stocks from coal. The plant will incorporate technologies that either capture or prevent the formation of pollutants.

The goal of FutureGen is to achieve virtual zero emission air pollutants, convert all solid wastes to useful commercial products and capture as much as 90 percent of the total carbon dioxide produced by the plant.

The selected sites are: Effingham, IL; Marshall, IL; Mattoon, IL; Tuscola, IL; Henderson County, KY; Bowman County, ND; Meigs County, OH; Tuscarawas County, OH; Odessa,TX; Jewett, TX; Point Pleasant, WV; Gillette, WY.

The field of site selections will be narrowed this summer with the final FutureGen site announced in the fall of 2007. The plant is planned for operation in 2012.