Gov. Pat Quinn used his veto pen Friday to scotch a coal gasification
plant on the Southeast Side of Chicago. Environmental advocates hailed
the move, but also warned that New York City-based Leucadia National Corporation would return to Springfield with a revised proposal.
And that
may be the case. But energy companies have not yet figured out how to make 'clean coal' or 'coal to gas' projects both economically and environmentally appealing to Quinn and state lawmakers. Read more »
The following was written by Jack Darin of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter.
Friday Governor Quinn took bold action to protect Illinois ratepayers from a gas rate hike to subsidize the coal-to-gas plant proposed by New York-based Leucadia National Corporation. The proposal has come under fire from community residents concerned about the millions of pounds of air pollution Leucadia could add to Illinois’ air. Strong opposition has also come from businesses, consumer groups, school advocates, and others who don’t want to be forced to pay, through their gas bills, for Leucadia’s overpriced gas.
Leucadia’s gamble could cost Illinois $8.7 billion over the 30 years that ratepayers would be compelled to underwrite it.
Plans for a new power plant to be built on the city’s Southeast Side have area residents divided on two key issues. Put simply, the argument comes down to employment versus environment.
Gov. Pat Quinn used his veto pen Friday to scotch a coal gasification
plant on the Southeast Side of Chicago. Environmental advocates hailed
the move, but also warned that New York City-based Leucadia National Corporation would return to Springfield with a revised proposal.
The following was written by Jack Darin of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. 
