FutureGen CO2 decision site expected next week

SPRINGFIELD — The communities hoping to be the FutureGen clean coal project's carbon dioxide storage site will soon know if their hopes have been met.

The FutureGen Alliance announced Friday it will announce its selection Monday. The alliance is a group of coal companies and other firms working with the U.S. Department of Energy on FutureGen.

The sites in contention are in Christian, Douglas, Fayette and Morgan counties. The carbon dioxide would be generated by a power plant in Meredosia the project aims to refit with low-emissions technology. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas linked to climate change.

The project was announced last year after the Energy Department scrapped plans to build a new experimental coal plant in Mattoon.

The Energy Department is covering most of the $1.2 billion project.