Illinois has jumped aboard the “green” bandwagon with legislation that could bring a natural gas plant along with 200 jobs to the South Side of Chicago.
Illinois has jumped aboard the “green” bandwagon with legislation that could bring a natural gas plant along with 200 jobs to the South Side of Chicago.
Ten million dollars would be earmarked to decide the practicality of a possible $2 billion synthetic natural gas facility at a brownfield site that was formerly a shuttered steel plant near the Calumet River. A subsidiary of Leucadia National Corp., a holding company whose interests include manufacturing, telecommunications and property management, would develop the facility.
State Rep. Marlow Colvin, D-33rd, sponsored the bill that would put the plant that would turn Illinois coal into natural gas in his district.
“It is a cheaper alternative to natural gas,” Colvin said. “A huge economic boost for the area (and) it is a perfect use for some of these industrial sites.”
House Speaker Michael Madigan also backs the measure, said Steve Brown, Madigan’s press secretary.
“He is supportive of it,” Brown said. “It is the latest in a series of proposals that would help make better use of coal gasification projects in Illinois. Money has been earmarked for two similar projects in central and southern Illinois. Illinois has a vast coal reserve. Efforts have been made to try to find ways to maximize that use. It is good for local energy consumption and creating jobs.”
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