Gasification plant is wise investment

Lincolnland Economic Development Corp. is recruiting the $2.8 billion Indiana Gasification LLC clean energy project. The plant represents hundreds of permanent, high-paying jobs in newer, cleaner advanced industrial technologies. In addition, it will revive hundreds of jobs in related industries, and will support yet another 1,000 laborers during construction. Indiana suppliers and vendors will also benefit. The company will create a new resource for Indiana’s waterway and rail commerce. Our region needs these jobs and revenues.

Indiana Gasification’s process is the cleanest, most innovative industrial use of coal in history. It will even generate millions of extra barrels of domestic oil each year.

Our state’s agreement with Indiana Gasification requires the company to give Hoosier ratepayers a corporate financial guarantee and some inventive revenue sharing. This is unheard-of security.

Indiana Gasification’s cooperation with state and federal government reflects public-sector encouragement of the private sector to develop alternative energy, while protecting our environment. The plan is conceived by one of America’s top environmentalists, researched by top academics, designed by environmental engineers and approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Tom Utter
executive director, Lincolnland Economic Development Corp., Rockport