Two Financial Backers Pull Out Of Futuregen Project CHAMPAIGN, IL (wsiu) - Just two weeks after the federal government revived plans to build the FutureGen coal power plant in eastern Illinois, two of the experimental plant's financial backers say they're withdrawing.

American Electric Power Company of Columbus, Ohio, and Southern Company of Atlanta are leaving the Mattoon project.

American Electric spokeswoman Melissa McHenry says the company is concerned about costs and uncertainties about FutureGen's scope.

Southern only says it will focus on other carbon capture projects it is involved with.

FutureGen spokesman Lawrence Pacheco says the nine companies still involved with the project are negotiating with potential new partners. He declined to name them.
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