H&R Springfield Bureau

SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday publicly asked the federal government to pay for the FutureGen project now that it's been slated for Mattoon in East Central Illinois.

Concerns over the escalating costs of the project have cast worry over the plant's long-term future.

Mattoon won its bid to host the nonpolluting power plant, but rifts among its developers have left some wondering if the plant will open by 2012, if at all.

"The FutureGen project is too important, nationally and internationally, to be put in jeopardy," Blagojevich said. "Statements by the U.S. Department of Energy yesterday suggested that the project might be delayed."

Blagojevich arrived Tuesday for the celebration in Mattoon. But shortly after the morning announcement, a Department of Energy official said high costs meant the plant's design needed a "reassessment."

In his letter, Blagojevich requested a meeting with energy secretary Samuel Bodman.

If kept on schedule as planned, the plant would open in 2012.