Why did we come to Mattoon? Well first of all, our car broke down. But our stop here was a perfect way to end the trip, since this city is a symbol of the future of clean coal technology.

Mattoon, Ill.: Site of FutureGen

As we've seen, coal-based electricity facilities have made great strides in reducing nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants from ever being emitted into the air. In fact, when it comes to all regulated pollutants, coal plants are 77 percent cleaner in terms of emissions currently regulated under existing Clean Air Act programs per unit of energy produced.

But what about carbon dioxide and other emissions?

One answer (there are many!) is FutureGen, a public-private partnership to build the world's first near-zero emissions coal-based power plant. Mattoon is the best site in the entire country to build the plant, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, due to the surrounding geology.