To the Editor:

A bill before Gov. Pat Quinn would allow a New York City conglomerate to build a “clean coal” plant in Chicago while potentially increasing natural gas costs for consumers outside the city.

SB 3766 would force Ameren and Nicor customers to cover the $3 billion construction of the Leucadia National plant, which would convert coal and other materials into natural gas, and then buy the high-priced gas for the next three decades. What about Peoples Gas – Chicago’s gas utility? It pulled out months ago, concerned about the cost to consumers.