Though a meeting between Midwest governors to discuss a regional climate policy will not be held till Wednesday,
Gov. Jim Doyle sent a letter to the governor of Illinois Tuesday expressing support for a state-of-the-art Illinois power plant that could also benefit Wisconsin.
The FutureGen power plant would be the first type of facility in the world to store carbon dioxide underground, with near-zero green house gas emissions. The plant would use coal to produce electricity and also produce hydrogen for other industrial purposes, according to the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc. website.
Doyle said in the letter that the plant could benefit the entire Midwest, and Illinois had the support of Wisconsin research communities.
Two sites in Illinois are being considered for the plant, as well as sites in Texas. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the decision on the location of the plant could be decided by December.
