U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, is hopeful that Department of Energy Secretary Stephen Chu will respond to his letter requesting a release of FutureGen funding within a few days, said Phil Bloomer, a spokesman for Johnson.

“There is no good rationale for holding it up,” said Bloomer. “All the research has been done and FutureGen is ready to go,” he said of the plan to construct a near zero-emissions coal-fueled power plant near Mattoon.

Bloomer said that the 13 companies who make up the FutureGen Alliance will be meeting in Washington, D.C. next week to continue planning.