Durbin maintains FutureGen will be built in Illinois

CHAMPAIGN — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he believes — even after lengthy delays and radical changes — the FutureGen clean-coal project will be built in Illinois.

During a stop at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign on Wednesday, Durbin said he understands that many people in east-central Illinois are unhappy about recent changes.

The Department of Energy last month said it now won't build a futuristic power plant in Mattoon. That had been the plan since 2007.

The new plan calls for trying out different technology at an existing plant in Meredosia.

Those changes caught many by surprise.

Durbin says he knew only six days in advance and couldn't say anything because the Energy Department was still working out the details.