Gas plant unfairly burdens consumers

A bill before Gov. Pat Quinn would allow a New York City conglomerate to build a “clean coal” plant in Chicago while potentially increasing natural gas costs for consumers outside the city. SB 3766 would force Ameren and Nicor customers to cover the $3 billion construction of the Leucadia National plant, which would convert coal and other materials into natural gas, and then buy the high-priced gas for the next three decades. What about Peoples Gas — Chicago’s gas utility? It pulled out months ago, reasonably concerned about the cost to consumers.

The Citizens Utility Board isn’t absolutely opposed to the Leucadia project, but it is simply unfair to slam suburban, Central and Southern Illinois with all the costs of this project. If the plant makes economic sense, as supporters claim, then Leucadia should have no problem moving the project forward by selling the remaining gas to utilities in other states or on the market — and not dumping all the burden on Illinois consumers.

Leucadia National also is known for wineries, beef-packing and casino management, but its coal-to-gas plant is an entirely different gamble, and Illinois consumers look to be the losers. Please, go to www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org to send a message asking Gov. Quinn to protect your gas bills and veto SB 3766.

David Kolata

Executive director

Citizens Utility Board