[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15576]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1210
                      PRAIRIE STATE ENERGY CAMPUS

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous 
contributions of the Prairie State Energy Campus in Washington County, 
Illinois. This state-of-the-art coal-fired electricity-generating 
facility is making great advancements in environmental stewardship 
while at the same time benefiting the community that serves in helping 
live longer and better lives.
  Some in Congress have questioned and even attacked advanced coal 
plants like Prairie State. I have no doubt Prairie State and projects 
like it are smart investments for our energy future. Here are just a 
few of the many great benefits of Prairie State: Prairie State will 
serve more than 2.5 million families in nine States with affordable 
power for over 30 years. It has created 4,000 real jobs and will employ 
500 full-time employees upon completion next year. Prairie State has 
invested more than $1 billion in ultra-efficient environmental controls 
that already meet or exceed Federal and State regulations. Even with 
these investments in efficiency, it is projected to offer consumer 
electricity at only 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour.
  Prairie State is the largest contributor to the tax base in 
Washington County, generating over $785 million in regional economic 
activity.
  I urge my colleagues to take the time to learn the facts about 
Prairie State and what additional great projects like this could mean 
for our Nation.

                          ____________________