Secure Energy Decatur Gasification Plant

The Secure Energy Decatur Gasification Plant is a proposed coal to natural gas (syngas) plant planned for Decatur, Illinois. "The plant will convert up to 1.4 million tons per year of high-sulfur Illinois coal into pipeline quality natural gas," the company states. Secure Energy is a St. Louis, Missouri-based company "focusing on coal conversion technologies".

The Illinois EPA issued an air permit in April 2007, and the plant is scheduled to be operational in 2009. The company has placed orders with Siemens turbines and has entered into coal contracts. However, Rob Day’s “Cleantechcollective” blog reported in August 2007 that Secure Energy had raised only $5.5 million of a targeted of a targeted $8 million round of financing.

In April 2009, $14 million for the Secure Energy plant was allocated by the state of Illinois under the Illinois Coal Revival Program. Secure Energy is now in the process of finalizing a grant agreement with the state in order to receive these funds, as well as waiting for federal approval on loan guarantees.

In July 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy informed Secure Energy that it would not provide the $647 million in loan guarantees the company had requested. Developers will have to find new financing for the plant to move forward.

In another hurdle for the project, Sierra Club claims that the plant's construction permits have expired. The permits were issued in April 2007, which means that construction should have begun before April 2008. If Secure Energy begins construction without new permits, they could face legal challenges.

As of February 10, 2010, Secure Energy has not yet started the application process again.

Project Details
Sponsor: Secure Energy LLC Location: Decatur, IL Size: Type: Coal-to-Synthetic Gas Projected in service: Status: Early Development (still seeking financing)

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Secure Energy
 * Carbon Capture and Storage
 * Existing U.S. Coal Plants
 * US proposed coal plants (both active and cancelled)
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2007
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2008
 * Illinois and coal
 * Proposed Synfuels Plants in the United States
 * State-by-state guide to information on coal in the United States (or click on the map)

External Articles

 * “Tracking New Coal-Fired Power Plants,” National Energy Tech Lab, May 1, 2007, page 11. (Pdf)
 * "International Coal Group to Supply Coal for the Secure Energy Decatur, Illinois Gasification Plant", Secure Energy press release, July 19, 2007.