Good turnout welcomes FutureGen to Mexia

By BOB WRIGHT — Editor Mexia Daily, February 04, 2006

The FutureGen Team was welcomed with "open arms" this morning at Mexia Civic Center, and the Site-Selection Team apparently liked the enthusiastic response and presentations. Team members were to be in Mexia for most of the day, visiting the proposed site of the environmentally-friendly plant in Mexia Industrial Park.

County officials, school officials, governmental entity board members and other citizens turned out to greet and show support for getting the plant here, as FutureGen Team Members looked on.

Following local presentations, a response from the Team indicated members liked what they saw and heard. Spokesman for FutureGen Site-Selection Team was Jay Kipper from the University of Texas Department of Economics, praised Mexia and Limestone for putting together their proposal, and noted that, "It was six months ago that at request of President Bush, the Department of Energy proposed the idea of FutureGen," which he noted, "A project which will produce energy for a nation which is hungry for energy." He said while producing the energy, "This will keep the environment intact...utilitizing coal resources in a clean way."

Other FutureGen Site-Selection Team members include Steve Walden, whose responsibility is the environmental phases of FutureGen plants; Katie Robin, Brian Ellis, Jerry Hill and Dr. Ian Duncan.

Matt Groveton, Coordinator of Emergency Management for Limestone County, and Tommy Tucker, Director of the Mexia Economic Development Corporation, were highly praised by County Judge Elenor Holmes for their large-scale roles in putting together the proposal for Mexia to be the site location.

Toward conclusion of the program today, Groveton emphasized, "There is no obstacle that will will not get past to get FutureGen." That statement elicited enthusiastic applause.

Sharon Barnes, head of the Groesbeck Economic Development Corporation, spoke briefly, lending her support to the project. Same for Donna Casstevens, representing the Heart of Texas Council of Governments (HOTCOG).

One theme shone through the meeting, as stated by Tucker, "We have the natural resources...and this has been a great team effort."

The Site-Selection Team members were anxious to see the proposed location for Mexia's FutureGen plant, and were to be taken on tours around Mexia, including an aerial overview of proposed sites.

One important point was made by Kipper of the Site-Selection Team when he said, "This will be only one of many plants we plan to locate around the nation."

Mexia made the first cut, and right now, things are "looking good," one observer said.