FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that the state's proposals to attract the FutureGen power plant have been submitted to the FutureGen Industrial Alliance in Washington, D.C. Jointly proposed by the Industrial Alliance and the United States Department of Energy (DOE), FutureGen will be the world's first coal-based, near-zero-emission power plant.

"Ohio has the strategic location, the right geology, an excellent workforce, a very aggressive incentive package and a long history of leadership in clean-coal technology, making our state the ideal location for FutureGen," Taft said. "I salute Jo Ann Davidson and the other members of the Ohio FutureGen Task Force for their leadership in preparing what we believe are very competitive proposals."

The $1 billion FutureGen project is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and another 100-plus facility and research positions, provide spin-off research opportunities, and ultimately generate 275 megawatts of electricity. In addition to producing near-zero emissions, FutureGen will produce hydrogen for use as a fuel source and will store carbon dioxide in deep, underground geologic formations.

At least eight other states are expected to submit FutureGen proposals by today's 4 p.m. deadline. A short list of the most qualified sites is expected to be announced later this year, with the final site selection expected in mid-to late-2007.

Ohio submitted two separate proposals for consideration - one in Tuscarawas County and the other in Meigs County. The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, the Ohio Rail Development Commission, the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Water Development Authority and the Governor's Office of Appalachia have partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development Office to offer an incentive package valued at up to $164 million.

Earlier this week, Taft joined Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher and Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell to announce a formal agreement among the three states to support the region's efforts to secure FutureGen. Kentucky has submitted one site for consideration while Pennsylvania is interested in being a research partner. The three states have also committed to creating the Ohio River Valley Coal Research Consortium, a collaboration among the states' major universities and other research and technology development organizations.

To date, Ohio institutions participating in the consortium include Case Western Reserve University, Ohio University, The Ohio State University, and the Universities of Akron, Cincinnati, and Dayton. They have agreed to offer and facilitate fundamental research to support FutureGen activities. Also participating are the University of Kentucky, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

In April, the Governor and the Ohio legislature committed $1 million to support the drilling of a test well to provide important geological data for the state's FutureGen proposal. The money will be matched with $1 million from the Ohio Coal Development Office and private sector contributions.