The RFP, released Monday, outlines that the successful site will be located in the Mount Simon geologic formation within the state of Illinois.
While the developers – including the US Department of Energy – have provided a 3pm November 15 deadline for electronically submitted formal proposals, interested parties must respond to the RFP by November 1 to declare their intentions.
As potential sites work to develop their packages, the alliance and the DOE will host a bidders’ meeting October 28 from 1-4pm local time to explain the submittal process and answer questions.
A public open house allowing individuals to learn more about FutureGen 2.0 and carbon capture and sequestration technology will be held from 5pm the same day.
Both events will take place at Northfield Inn and Suites Conference Center in Springfield, Illinois.
The FutureGen Alliance has made resources relating to the project available on its website, including maps and an overview of the citing criteria that will be used for selection.
Once constructed, the hub will receive and store CO2 emissions from a power plant in Meredosia, Illinois, via pipeline, and that facility will be repowered using oxy-combustion technology.
The location chosen for the hub will also host FutureGen’s visitor, research and training facilities.
The group said earlier this month that it hopes to announce the selected site in early 2011.
The site will be subject to an environmental evaluation by the US Department of Energy in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and will be fully permitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
The site must also be able to meet the minimum requirements for FutureGen’s technical specifications, including access to the Mt Simon sandstone in Illinois.
“The alliance's site selection decision will also consider other factors such as the protection of environmental resources and human health and safety, cost minimization, and the ability to meet the design and construction schedule,” alliance officials said in early October, adding that community support for the site would be a critical factor in its final selection.
The construction of FutureGen 2.0 is supported by a $US1 billion federal funding commitment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
It is smaller version of the original FutureGen project planned for Mattoon, Illinois, that was shelved last year.
In late September, the FutureGen Alliance signed a $US533 million cooperative agreement with the US Department of Energy.
Under the deal, the former will maintain primary management responsibility and work along with Ameren Energy Resources to site, develop and operate a permanent CO2 storage site, along with facility’s pipeline.
