FutureGen: What if it's not us?

The local FutureGen project notables will gather Tuesday morning inside the University of Texas of the Permian Basin’s CEED Building and await the FutureGen Alliance’s decision live over the Internet from Washington.

Penwell: one of four final sites for the near-zero emissions coal-burning power plant.

The Permian Basin: so close to earning a nearly $2 billion private and publicly funded project.

On the edge of their seats … waiting … waiting …

The envelope please.

And then?

Right now, no one out here knows — or at least if someone in the know has the super-secret, super-protected already-determined outcome, they aren’t telling.

But what if Tuscola, Ill., or Mattoon, Ill., or Jewett is chosen over Penwell? What if three years of planning, organizing, presenting, designing and attracting the giant power plant goes flat?

What if the announcement is an ugh?

“We have put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this … but we move on,” Odessa Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director Gary Vest said.

A public announcement on a public project can lead to public disappointment. Typically economic developers deal with private companies who want to keep their projects quiet until they’re announced so if Odessa developer bids aren’t picked, then the public doesn’t hear about it, Vest said.

Even if Tuesday’s announcement is an “ugh” for Odessa, though — it’s not over.

The 600-acre site is primed for another project to be developed out there, Vest said. An environmental impact study has been completed, years of research are on paper, and the site has direct access to a railroad and an interstate highway. Plus, it’s received plenty of exposure. If FutureGen doesn’t come here, Vest expects a private or public project will follow soon.

Every bid isn’t always won, Odessa Mayor Larry Melton said, and there could be disappointment locally and across the region.

“We always seem to rebound,” Melton said. “Odessans are resilient, and we’ll keep moving forward. It’s all we can do.”

All would not be lost, Vest said. The entire process has been rewarding, especially the region’s communities uniting for the singular cause.

“There’s goodwill between the cities out here,” he said. “It shows we can accomplish something when we work together.”

Midland, Monahans, Odessa, Andrews and Fort Stockton all have had a financial hand in the bid for FutureGen.

Permian Basin FutureGen Task Force spokeswoman Stephanie Sparkman has been working with the project since 2004. She’ll be in the room Tuesday, anticipating the announcement.

Wouldn’t miss that for anything, she said.

“I got to tell you that emotions will be running high on that day,” she said.

“It may be hard for me to conceal disappointment if we’re not chosen, however I will always say that this process has been good for the Permian Basin,” she said. “It’s been good because we came together as a region to put forth a tremendous effort on behalf of the entire region to make a difference. That’s something I will always keep close to my heart.”

Of course, optimism still flourishes.

Melton isn’t worrying about losing the project.

“I think we’ll win it,” he said.