Illinois House Committee Passes Measure to Allow Power Plant Near Mattoon

An Illinois House committee Wednesday passed an amendment to power plant legislation sponsored by area State Representative Reggie Phillips. House Bill 4236 is legislation to allow for the construction of a small-scale power plant west of Mattoon on the former FutureGen site.

Officials say the new plant could create an estimated 400 temporary construction jobs and 40 to 60 full-time jobs, with average salaries of $80,000/year. The plant would be built solely with private funds.

The measure now heads to the House floor.