The State of Illinois is taking steps to make Mattoon or Tuscola the most appealing place for a clean-burning coal plant.

Pending bills in the House and Senate would protect Future-gen from certain kinds of lawsuits.

Senator Dale Righter says this would improve Illinois’ chances of being chosen.

“They are all designed to help improve Illinois’ incentive package, both in terms of money and in terms of substantive changes to the law in order to make sure the Futuregen Alliance knows that we are very much interested in having this project here in Illinois.”

The bill would require the state to cover some of Futuregen’s legal expenses if there was a carbon dioxide leak. Tuscola and Mattoon are competing with two other sites for the Futuregen plant.