GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of General Electric, has announced that it has made its first investment in a plant that will generate power and produce synthetic natural gas using coal gasification technology. It is acquiring a 20% equity interest in The ERORA Group LLC, which is developing Kentucky’s 630 MW Cash Creek integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) facility. The Cash Creek project’s location in Henderson County along the Green River provides the opportunity to interconnect with three electric grids – the PJM West, MISO and SPP – and is within 6mi of both the ANR and TGT interstate gas pipeline connections, allowing transport to end customers of the gas it will produce. Construction of Cash Creek is expected to begin in late 2007, pending financial close and required project approvals, with commercial operation planned in 2010 or 2011.