Illinois Set To Lead On Alternative Fuels

Gov. Blagojevich has introduced a pretty comprehensive plan to use Illionois own resources to make alternative fuel.

(Reuters)"No other state has the combination of natural resources that we have here in Illinois," Blagojevich said in a statement.

"We're the nation's leading producer of soybeans. We're the No. 2 producer of corn. And we have the nation's third-largest reserves of coal," he said.

Environmentalists agreed. "It looks like a very smart, political move by the governor and one that has real potential benefits in terms of both cleaner coal and reducing oil consumption," said Frank O'Donnell of the group Clean Air Watch.

"Obviously, the devil may be in the details. But it looks to be a good-faith effort to use local energy," O'Donnell said.

Clean burning coal is one of those things that people laugh at. But Illinois will use a method used in Europe (co2 capture)that is beginning to catch on here.