Tire to Energy Plant Informational Meeting

Thursday night, the Erie County Environmental Group held an informational meeting on the proposed tire to energy plant in the works for Erie. Environmentalists are concerned about the possible bio-products and their affects on the environment and public health...residents are too. "Ive lived through hammer mill and a number of other places and now that that’s gone the neighborhood is cleaner and less noisy and I dont see any reason to start over especially with something that sounds as dubious as a tire burning plant." Over 80 residents filled the room at the Maritime Center to hear what the Group Against Smog Pollution and the Energy Justice Network had to say about the proposal to burn 800 tons of tires a day on the former IP site. As people walked in the door, most of them signed a petition to urge city council to publicly oppose any plans. All this... Even though Erie Renewable Energy has claimed the process is safe during its own public meetings. One of the main topics discussed tonight was alternatives to burning tires for energy like turning them into crumb rubber for tracks, and mixing tires with asphalt to make roads. The plants opponents also discussed what they claim are the many health and environmental hazards of burning tires ... from cancer to autism. "Although the smoke coming out of their smoke stack may be clear its going to be laced with harmful persistent organic pollutants that are incumbent in the tire process." Erie Renewable Energy members claim this proposed plant would provide 200 construction jobs and provide enough energy to light up 50,000 homes.