Secure Energy Completes Land & Boiler Building Acquisition from Caterpillar for the Development of a Coal-to-Syngas Plant in Decatur
Proposed facility would produce synthetic natural gas from Illinois coal
January 29, 2007
DECATUR, Ill.—Secure Energy, Incorporated, a privately owned developer of coal gasification plants, has completed the previously announced acquisition of approximately 24 acres of land and a coal boiler building from Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) in Decatur, Illinois. Purchase terms were not disclosed. Secure Energy is currently completing detailed engineering of the coal-to-synthetic natural gas plant in Decatur. Purchase of the facility from Caterpillar Inc. will substantially advance the project, since several major components of the acquired property will be reused, including the coal handling system, the water treatment system, the electrical system, the building and other components.
Current plans for the plant include the initial production of 45,000 mmBtu/day of pipeline quality natural gas using approximately 1 million tons per year of Illinois coal. The plant will require an investment of $200 million over a two-year construction period and the addition of 40 full time jobs for commercial operations.
Secure Energy has filed for a minor source air permit with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, completed a fundamental engineering and economic design (FEED) package and filed for an Illinois Coal Revival Act grant from the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity. Secure Energy plans to begin construction of the plant as soon as all required permits have been obtained. “We are elated to be taking a major step in creating new jobs in the Decatur/ Macon County area and in reducing our country’s reliance on foreign energy sources,” said Lars Scott, President and Co-Founder of Secure Energy. “The currently available gasification technology is able to convert Illinois’ abundant high sulfur coal reserves into clean natural gas.”
“Caterpillar Decatur is proud that Secure Energy, Caterpillar and the Decatur community worked together to make it possible for Secure Energy to acquire this former Caterpillar power plant to produce much-needed clean energy from underutilized Illinois coal,” said Walt Hupe, general manager of Caterpillar Decatur.
About Secure Energy:
Secure Energy, Inc. is a St. Louis, MO, based development company focusing on coal conversion technologies. Secure Energy’s team has extensive experience in the development, financing and construction of large-scale industrial projects that involve commercialization of emerging technologies.
Contact:
Lars Scott
Secure Energy, Incorporated
314-853-5111