ORIGIN: Announced in 2003 by President Bush.

WHAT IS IT: A prototype for plants that can produce electricity and hydrogen from coal. The plant would incorporate emerging "integrated gasification combined cycle" technology. Under IGCC, air pollutants would be reduced virtually to zero, and solid wastes would be converted to useful commercial products.

KEY CHARACTERISTIC: Site would be suitable for safely storing carbon dioxide permanently deep underground in a way that could be applied to other sites in the U.S. and abroad.

POWER: That alternative to traditional coal combustion would generate 275 megawatts of electricity, enough for about 150,000 homes. The hydrogen it produces would be used in power-generating turbines or fuel cells, or perhaps in the future as a clean fuel for a new generation of automobiles and trucks.

TIME FRAME: A winning site is to be tapped next year, with the plant scheduled to be running by 2012.

IMPACT: Preliminarily estimates suggest a work force of as many as 1,300 could be employed at peak construction. A permanent work force of 150 could be required when the plant begins operations.

THE ALLIANCE: The FutureGen Industrial Alliance members include St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Corp.; Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power Co.; South Africa's Anglo American; Australia's BHP Billiton Ltd.; China Huaneng Group; Pittsburgh-based Consol Energy Inc.; Maryland-based Foundation Coal Holdings Inc.; Wyoming-based Kennecott Energy Co.; and Atlanta-based utility Southern Co.