Whereas , the federal FutureGen initiative holds great promise for improving American reliance on American fuel sources, and

Whereas , the State of Illinois has rich and bountiful coal deposits that offer the hope for energy independence, and

Whereas , Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign house world-class coal research facilities that are fully capable of driving the research mission of FutureGen, and

Whereas , the Illinois communities of Mattoon and Tuscola are sited between the two universities with excellent interstate highway access to take full advantage of that combined research capacity, and

Whereas , these Illinois communities offer ideal geologic formations to be able to provide the gas sequestration requirements of the FutureGen project that would so significantly reduce atmospheric emissions, and

Whereas , the entire state has joined together as one community with one voice in declaring common support for the location of the FutureGen project in either of the two Illinois locations,

Now Therefore Be It Resolved , that the Board of Directors of the Southern Illinois Coal Belt Champion Community, Inc., on behalf of the People of Perry, Franklin and Williamson Counties, hereby asserts the support of the entire Champion Community area for the location of the FutureGen project in Illinois, and that the Board of Directors of SICBCC, Inc., hand in hand with all the People of southern Illinois, stands ready to provide whatever assistance is needed to make this project a reality.

Approved this 10^th Day of October, 2007

Rex Duncan,

President of the Board of Directors