PEORIA — Caterpillar Inc. announced Monday its intent to join the FutrueGen Alliance, , a public-private partnership established to build a first-of-its-kind coal-fired, near-zero emissions power plant in Mattoon.

The FutureGen facility is designed to be the cleanest coal burning plant in the world and will integrate advanced technologies for coal gasification, electricity production, emissions control, carbon dioxide capture and permanent storage and hydrogen production on a commercial scale.

“Clean-coal plays a critical role in our energy supply, energy security and environmental protection,” said Caterpillar Vice Chairman, Doug Oberhelman.

“The FutureGen project will demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration technologies that are absolutely essential for the world to realize reductions in GHG emissions.

This alliance recognizes the global nature of climate and energy challenges and will provide domestic and international communities the ground breaking technologies to assist in the shared goal of reducing green house gas emissions.”

Caterpillar’s move signals critical support ahead of the U.S. Department of Energy’s pending decision to move ahead on FutureGen construction at a site in Mattoon. Gov. Pat Quinn said. Department of Energy will provide more than $1 billion in funding to the project.

“I welcome Caterpillar’s investment in FutureGen and in Illinois,” Quinn said.

“The company’s support – just over a week after another major Illinois-based company, Exelon, signed on to the project – is a clear sign that momentum for this project is gaining.”

“In just a little over a week, the FutureGen Alliance has added another strong partner with a deep connection to Illinois,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said.

“Caterpillar will bring a great deal to the table as the FutureGen Alliance and the Department of Energy continue in the final stages of negotiations. I look forward to welcoming many new FutureGen Alliance members – from Illinois and around the world.”

Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced that Caterpillar will join the FutureGen Alliance. This is the second major new Alliance member signed up in just over a week.

FutureGen is designed to be the cleanest coal-fueled power plant in the world. The 275 megawatt facility will convert coal into hydrogen and electricity, while capturing and safely storing the carbon dioxide in sandstone formations a mile beneath the site.

It will lay the groundwork for developing similar plants around the country and the world, pioneering the capture, rather than release of greenhouse gases.

“In just a little over a week, the FutureGen Alliance has added another strong partner with a deep connection to Illinois,” said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

“Caterpillar will bring a great deal to the table as the FutureGen Alliance and the Department of Energy continue in the final stages of negotiations. I look forward to welcoming many new FutureGen Alliance members – from Illinois and around the world.”

Read the original article from Herald & Review.