View source for Secure Energy Decatur Gasification Plant

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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".<ref>[http://www.decaturedc.com/content/view/65/34/ Illinois EP Issues Air Permit for the Construction of the Secure Energy Decatur Gasification Plant]", Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County, accessed December 2007.</ref>

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.  <ref>Rob Day, [http://www.cleantechcollective.com/blog/robday/site/posts/?bid=15764 "EnerTech, Secure Energy, Reklaim, Thermilate, and other news"], ''Cleantech Collective'', August 28, 2007.</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3214394 "Funds for Decatur Coal Plant Coming From State"], Chris Lusvardi, Herald & Review, May 1, 2009.</ref>  

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.<ref>[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/jul/24/news/chi-ap-il-illinoiscoalplant "Energy Dept. won’t back loans for Ill. coal plant,"] Associated Press, July 24, 2009.</ref> 

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.<ref name="sc">[http://www.sierraclub.org/environmentallaw/coal/plantlist.asp "Stopping the Coal Rush"], Sierra Club, accessed December 2007. (This is a Sierra Club list of new coal plant proposals.)</ref>

As of February 10, 2010, [[Secure Energy]] has not yet started the application process again.<ref name="sc"/>

With no developments since 2011, the project appears to be abandoned.<ref>[http://content.sierraclub.org/coal/environmentallaw/plant/secure-energy-paducah-gasification-plant "Secure Energy Decatur Gasification Plant,"] Sierra Club, accessed September 2017</ref>

==Project Details==
'''Sponsor:''' Secure Energy LLC <br>
'''Location:''' Decatur, IL<br>
'''Size:'''<br>
'''Type:''' Coal-to-Synthetic Gas <br>
'''Projected in service:''' <br>
'''Status:''' Cancelled (no progress in over four years)<br>

==Financing==

==Citizen Groups==

==Articles and Resources==

===References===
<references/>

===Related SourceWatch Articles===
*[[Secure Energy]]
*[[Carbon Capture and Storage]]
*[[Existing U.S. Coal Plants]]
*[[:category:Proposed coal plants in the United States|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|State-by-state guide to information on coal in the United States]] '''(or click on the map)'''
<us_map redirect="{state} and coal"></us_map>

===External Articles===
*[http://tinyurl.com/37a5ue “Tracking New Coal-Fired Power Plants,”] National Energy Tech Lab, May 1, 2007, page 11. (Pdf)
*[http://www.secureenergyinc.com/press-071907-international-coal-group.html "International Coal Group to Supply Coal for the Secure Energy Decatur, Illinois Gasification Plant"], Secure Energy press release, July 19, 2007.

[[Category: Proposed coal plants in Illinois]][[Category: Synfuels]]
[[Category:Proposed coal plants in the United States]]