Nov 10 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Bill Modisett Odessa American, Texas

The Environmental Protection Agency's finding that all four proposed FutureGen sites -- including the site at Penwell -- are acceptable has removed the last obstacle to awarding the near-zero emission coal-burning power plant.

At least two of the Permian Basin FutureGen Task Force members -- spokeswoman Stephanie Sparkman and Neil McDonald, economic development director of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce -- remain confident that the project will come to the Permian Basin.

"If the FutureGen Alliance follows through with what they have been saying all along, we will be celebrating on Dec. 17," Sparkman said.

McDonald agreed, saying the EPA's decision that all the sites at Odessa, Jewett, Mattoon, Ill., and Tuscola, Ill., are acceptable for the FutureGen project, makes him "extremely optimistic."

"In fact, we're going to be making arrangements to reserve the UTPB Center for Energy and Economic Diversification for the week of Dec. 17. A decision appears to be forthcoming then, and we're still extremely optimistic about being the most appropriate of the four sites," McDonald said.

U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Odessa, said the final Environmental Impact Statement has been completed and will be made public Friday.

"I'm pleased with the findings and continue to wholeheartedly believe that the Odessa-Penwell site is the most desirable site for the FutureGen initiative," Conaway said.

Conaway added that the entire West Texas community has "put together a tremendous effort in looking toward the future with its efforts to bring FutureGen to West Texas."

The congressman also said the placement of the EIS report in the Federal Register on Nov. 16 will mark the start of a 30-day period for public comment.

"The Department of Energy issued the EIS in record time," Michael J. Mudd, chief executive officer of the FutureGen Alliance, said. "Completing this massive effort in such a short time is a testament to the teamwork by the DOE, its contractors, the states and the Alliance."

Greg Walker, chairman of the FutureGen Alliance board of directors, noted, "Whether the plant winds up in Texas or Illinois, the real beneficiaries of the project will be future generations who will have cleaner and affordable electricity from coal -- the world's most abundant energy source."