Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that a “preliminary agreement” with the FutureGen Alliance has been reached. The DOE plans to commit more than $1 billion towards the project. The agreement will begin in July when a record of decision is issued. A redesign of the project, an analysis of where the CO2 emissions can be sequestered, and an updated cost estimate will be completed by early 2010. Once those steps are completed, a decision on whether to continue with the project will be made.