Daniels signs clean coal bill into law

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The governor signed a bill into law Tuesday morning that promotes the use of clean coal technology to create natural gas.

Governor Mitch Daniels said the measure will create a 1,000 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs at a plant in Rockport, Indiana.

The plant will produce enough natural gas to supply 15% of Indiana's consumption and, the governor says, will keep utility rates from rising. It is also a statement in favor of the continued use of Indiana coal as an energy source.

"This will be one of the cleanest power plants of any kind ever. It is 99% cleaner than the plants of today so its on a par really with nuclear energy and other alternative sources," said Gov. Daniels.

The clean coal measure is the first bill signed into law by the governor in 2009.