CARBONDALE - Details of findings from a pre-feasibility study for a proposed coal gasification plant on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale will be released at a news conference today.

SIU President Glenn Poshard had asked Gov. Rod Blagojevich to consider letting the university build the plant to replace the campus' current power plant last March. A feasibility study at the time was expected to be completed by summer, but that changed and the announcement was expected early this year.

"There are a lot of things that go back and forth, and I think that adds to how long these things take," said John Mead, director of the Coal Research Center at SIUC.

Mead added the study was "a very initial look at what we may be doing with new technology" and is not necessarily aimed at providing all the details, but "I think we can give a little bit more information tomorrow."

The news conference will be at 9 a.m. at the Stone Center. Poshard did not return calls for comment before deadline.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

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