About that South Side Gas Plant

By Kevin Robinson in News on Dec 2, 2010 3:20PM

The Illinois House passed legislation Tuesday that authorized the construction of a plant that would produce synthetic natural gas (seriously, am I the only one that thinks that sounds like an oxymoron?). The bill would have required Illinois suppliers to purchase a portion of the plants production, which makes fuel from Illinois coal and petroleum refinery waste. Yesterday the state Senate put the brakes on the bill, holding it up in the Senate Executive Committee, and legislators saying the bill won't be considered until the General Assembly returns to its lame duck session in January.

Proponents say that the plant will immediately create some 1,200 construction jobs in the city's far South side, and will lead to 200 permanent jobs at the facility. The bill is opposed by utility People's Gas, which says that obligatory purchase of fuel from the plant will mean higher rates for consumers.