I realize that this is a slim minority position around here, but fossil fuels are not going to disappear anytime soon and without a strategy to dramatically reduce their emissions, we'll never achieve the carbon reduction levels necessary to seriously limit climate change.  The IL legislation was supported by a number of environmental organizations and the IL attorney general precisely because it has the toughest carbon requirements for a coal-fueled facility in the country.  

The first project (Taylorville) will have an emissions profile comparable to a natural gas-fueled plant.  Subsequent plants under the legislation will be significantly better.

Would those who say no new fossil fuel plants advocate shutting down every natural gas power plant as well as every coal power plant?  If they do, then have fun living in the stone age as we'll have about 20% of current levels.

As to the $18 million, that will be refunded to the state when the plant goes to financial close.  

BTW, I am involved with this project as well as environmental and other organizations that take a more middle-of-the-road position on coal gasification.  And no, I'm not affiliated with the industry shills at ACCCE.

The unanimous $18m boondoggle is probably minimal in savings to coal developers compared to the unanimous support the Illinois leg's gave to corp's using CCS by giving them indemnity from "unanticipated" resulting harm.

Even better from the Pope on the Springfield deal to put another new 250mw coal burning plant in Ill, this one along with 120mw of supposedly new wind capacity
a first in the effort to curb global warming.