7 states in bidding war for next-generation power plant that's virtually pollution-free

ST. LOUIS (AP) - In fierce bidding reminiscent of efforts two decades ago to win the superconducting super collider, seven states are aggressively trying to land a billion-dollar power plant prototype that's virtually pollution free.

Home to a third of the dozen sites chasing FutureGen, Illinois has up to $80 million in incentives on the table, from grants to low-interest loans. Ohio is offering twice that, while Texas has passed a law making it responsible for any legal entanglements stemming from the coal-fired plant's carbon dioxide emissions.

Some of the states are ponying up everything from sales-tax relief to free land, pushing the enticements into the hundreds of millions of dollars in the hunt for more than 1,000 construction jobs and 150 permanent ones, along with the researchers and side businesses the plant...

By JIM SUHR AP Business Writer

Full Story...

Posted by rjorr at June 18, 2006 10:12 AM