Clevelanders still concerned over garbage gasification

CLEVELAND - The proposed Cleveland Recycling and Energy Generation Center is generating such passionate opposition that the audience at a community meeting about the facility had to be brought to order more than once Thursday night.

Leading the opposition is Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who said he lives a couple of miles from the Ridge Road location.

"I'm convinced there are health effects that are being underestimated," he said.

The facility would convert garbage into electrical power through a gasification process. After recyclables are removed, the garbage would be converted into a synthetic gas that would fuel a boiler that generates steam. The steam turns a turbine to create electricity.

According to Cleveland Public Power, the project would mean fewer large trucks traveling to the landfill and state of the art air pollution control equipment will reduce the amount of emissions.

"The predicted maximum off-site air quality impact for each pollutant we identified is well within the guidelines established by the Ohio EPA," Cleveland Public Power Commissioner Ivan Henderson said.

But residents want to know more.

"I'm getting the feeling I'm watching one of those drug commercials that has all the good things it's going to do for you," Congressman Kucinich said. "But then in a soft voice they tell you this could cause stroke, cancer, heart attack."

The meeting had to be moved from the Estabrook gym to a room across the hall after a toggle bolt fell from the ceiling. Cleveland Director of Public Works Michael Cox said the bolt is one of about 500 that holds down the underlayer of the roof. The gym will be closed through Saturday while they check all of the other bolts.

Another community meeting is scheduled for January 26th at the Zelma George Recreation Center, 3155 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. at 6 p.m.