Of the four remaining site proposals for the FutureGen project, the Illinois towns of Tuscola and Mattoon now have the monies needed to complete any remaining work necessary to host the first near-zero emissions power facility, state officials told Associated Press this week.

This latest funding commitment follows a recent $17 million grant provided to help lure the project to the state, according to Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity director Jack Lavin; funding which originated from a state-based clean coal technology fund.

“The purpose of the grant is to make sure all the resources are there to get the job done,” Lavin said in a community meeting.

Regardless of the which of the four sites is eventually chosen, the project is expected to generate more than 1300 temporary jobs during construction and approximately 150 permanent positions.

Public hearings have been scheduled at each finalist’s site as follows:

Odessa, TX – August 24

Jewett, TX – August 22

Tuscola, IL – August 29

Mattoon, IL – August 31

The FutureGen Alliance is made up of some of the world's largest industry companies, including Anglo Coal, American Electric Power, BHP Billiton, the China Huaneng Group, Consol Energy, Foundation Coal, Peabody Energy, PPL and Southern Company. International partners South Korea and India also joined the project earlier this year.

Plant construction could begin in 2009, which could allow the project to commence operations by 2012.