Opponents of gasification facility protest at Cleveland City Hall

CLEVELAND - As opponents of Cleveland's proposed gasification plant took their protest to city hall Monday night, one city councilman predicted the project won't happen.

"I predict tonight that this is never going to happen," Ward 14 Councilman Brian Cummins said, "because of the financing, but the more people learn about this, the more they're against the pollution. People don't want to be polluted anymore."

Cleveland Public Power wants to install a gasification facility at the Ridge Road Transfer Station that would convert municipal solid waste into energy.

Council's Public Utilities Committee Chairman Kevin Kelley said it's too soon to predict whether it will happen.  He said council members are currently trying to learn as much as they can about gasification, so they can make an informed decision.

"No one on council is interested in harming the health of our families and our children," Kelley said. "No one on city council is interested in making a $180 million dollar mistake. So we're just gathering information right now."

Anyone wishing to comment on the facility's draft air permit can write to David Hearne, Cleveland Division of Air Quality, 75 Erieview Plaza, Suite 200, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 until February 23.

There will also be two more community meetings about the proposed facility on February 8 at the Cudell Recreation Center and February 9 at the Harvard Community Services Center.