High Hopes The Leucadia coal gassification plant, also known as the Chicago Clean Energy project, received another dose of legislative support in the final days of the Illinois legislative session. Project director, Hoyt Hudson, says the three billion dollar plant will bring clean energy, 1,100 temporary jobs and over 200 permanent jobs to a struggling area. The synthetic natural gas plant would use steam to break down coal and petroleum coke. This process takes place underground allowing the gas to be filtered. This process would allow for Illinois coal, notably high in sulfur and restricted in most states, to grow creating 165 mining jobs. Leucadia is required to capture 85 percent of CO2 emissions. To meet this, Leucadia plans on redirecting it through an underground pipe (construction also pending) extending to Texas to further oil extraction. Consumer's bills will also be reduced by $100 million over the next 30 years, says Hudson. A Consumer Pr...
By Crystal Vance Guerra