HR0616 LRB093 16021 BDD 41645 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Coal must play a vital role in the energy policy
3 of the United States; and
 
4     WHEREAS, On February 27, 2003, President George W. Bush
5 announced that the United States would sponsor FutureGen, a $1
6 billion, 10-year demonstration project to create the world's
7 first coal-based, zero emissions power plant to produce
8 electricity and hydrogen; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois' rich history of coal
10 mining, educational expertise in coal development, and natural
11 resources make it an ideal location for the FutureGen facility;
12 and
 
13     WHEREAS, Southern Illinois University, the Illinois State
14 Geological Society, the Gas Technology Institute, and the
15 Illinois Clean Coal Institute are currently active in
16 coal-to-hydrogen development; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Almost one-eighth of the total coal reserves in
18 the U.S. are located in Illinois, and, with one-quarter of the
19 bituminous coal reserve, Illinois has the largest bituminous
20 coal reserve in the nation; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Illinois possesses large areas that are suitable
22 for sequestration; and multiple coals, numerous mature oil
23 reservoirs, and multiple deep saline reservoirs are present in
24 the State; and
 
25     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has long supported and
26 provided incentives to its coal industry through programs that
27 finance research, development, and commercialization of new
28 technologies and uses for coal; and
 

 

 

HR0616 - 2 - LRB093 16021 BDD 41645 r

1     WHEREAS, Illinois has one of the largest and most
2 comprehensive transportation infrastructures in the nation
3 with 3 interstate highways that run coast-to-coast and has more
4 than 1,100 miles of navigable rivers, lakes, and canals with
5 direct links to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Illinois has ready access to transmission and
7 proximity to major electric markets and can move power to
8 Chicago, St. Louis, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the
9 East Central Area Reliability Council; therefore, be it
 
10     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
12 applaud the President and the U.S. Department of Energy for
13 their development of the FutureGen project and leaders in
14 Congress for their continuing efforts in making this project a
15 reality; and be it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That we call upon the members of Congress to take
17 any actions necessary to fully implement the FutureGen project;
18 and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That we urge the President and the U.S.
20 Department of Energy to locate the FutureGen project in
21 Illinois; and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to
23 the President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of
24 Energy, the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, the
25 Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and each member
26 of the Illinois congressional delegation.