or aka: Blowing Smoke Up My !@#.
I wrote about my feelings regarding the Erie Tire Plant some time ago, back in the “Before-Time”, and since then, I have been dutifully following the progress of Rubino and gang as they move forward with Erie Renewable Energy TDF plant.
I haven’t heard much about the tire plant as of late except to notice more “KEEP” signs popping up on more and more lawns .
However, even though my gut instinct says this is a bad idea all around, that alone is not enough to denounce the operation as a whole. I wanted to be fair to the democratic process so I thought I would check out what ERE has to say on the matter. I began a web search at 4:43 pm yesterday and as of 8:03 I had yet to find a damn thing on Erie Renewable Energy.
I find this rather odd. If you are going to start up a business in this world, particularly one as contentious as ERE, you would think that the first thing you would do is set up a website. Why? Because it is your most basic communication tool with the public. It’s where you state your case and let it be scrutinized. Second thing you do, if you’re smart, is you hire a public mouth piece. That means PR, people. As yet, I have yet to find either the website or the PR person for ERE.
Hell, even Lake Erie Biofuels, of which there has been much rumored goings-on that ought to be investigated, threw up a website. It provides no useful information whatsoever, but at least they try to make you feel all warm and cozy with their chirpy-happy-crunchy-granola-go-green logo.
So back to my research, I did find a crap load of information debunking tire derived fuel as a safe alternative energy. The local group, KEEP, voicing their dissent on the tire plant has website up and and plainly and clearly states their case. Where is ERE to dispute any of the information presented on the KEEP website?
Google search “TDF”, Erie Tire Plant, or “tire derived fuel” and you will come across the Energy Justice Network. Again, you will find a website devoted to the argument against TDF as an alternative energy source.
I checked out the EPA website and found their pansy-wishy-washy-ambiguously-vague support of the process nauseating. “The ash residues from TDF may contain a lower heavy metals content than some coals”? How about should contain, will be mandated to contain, will be vigorously monitored so that it does contain…? Any combination will suit me just fine, but “may“? Oh, and my favorite part: “The Agency supports the responsible use of tires in portland cement kilns and other industrial facilities, so long as the candidate facilities: (1) have a tire storage and handling plan; (2) have secured a permit for all applicable state and federal environmental programs; and (3) are in compliance with all the requirements of that permit.”
The EPA “supports” “so long as….”? Are they freakin’ kidding me? Did I mistakenly download the Boy Scouts of America website? I’m not taking ERE on the honor system, not under this current administration. I want facts. Hard facts. That means science and not a “trust me”. Hell, the EPA is supposed to be protecting us, what is this crap?
So I tried to give ERE a fair hearing, but after this length of time, without any further information being provided by the most recognizable means, I can only conclude that ERE is hiding something and/or doesn’t really believe the position they hold. So am back where I started:
That this is all just a bad idea.
11 comments
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April 8, 2008 at 11:35 am
Dennis
>>>If you are going to start up a business in this world, particularly one as contentious as ERE, you would think that the first thing you would do is set up a website. Why? Because it is your most basic communication tool with the public.<<<
It’s a bit arrogant of them but it doesn’t matter one iota what the public thinks about the proposed plant. The site meets the zoning requirements for the plant and it’s a 99 percent certainty it will meet state guidelines to get a license.
Not far from Erie, in Chautauqua County NY, a proposed environmentally friendly wind farm was opposed because birds might run into the turbines.
April 8, 2008 at 12:45 pm
inmate1972
it’s unfortunate, but that’s probably true. if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Erie since moving here, is that local government could give a damn what the citizens think.
that kind of rhetoric about wind farms really tees me off. damned if you do, damned if you don’t. the rate of birds dying in turbines is very low compared to birds that die due to chemical pollution. people really need to pick their evil.
April 8, 2008 at 1:35 pm
andrea
This sort of thing makes me hope that The Prof finds a fantastic job in the Northwest, California, the Rocky Mountain region, or the Northeast so we can move the feck out of here!
April 29, 2008 at 10:28 am
Randy
It is hard for ERE to dispute the facts. Remember last summer they stated via the Erie Times that there would be “no soot, no smell and no pollution”. Once the 365 page Emissions Permit Application was filed with the PA DEP we learned that 8,000+ pounds of pollution will come out the 300 foot stack. Many known cancer causing agents will be part of the emissions. Check the obituaries in the Times News. Are there not enough cancer deaths already? We can become the ANTI green town. Now that will get some attention. Maybe the same people who want to market the area as the home of the worlds largest tire incinerator could convince GE that being green and trying to reduce pollution from locomotive emissions is not worth the effort. There is room on the north side of East Lake Road for 5 more incinerators of this size. Just think we could bring everything in by barge to burn right on our lakefront. If a little pollution is okay that a lot should be even better. Just ask the 220 employees in the Meadville office of the PA DEP they will tell you its all good. They have never shut down a polluter that has a permit. They just fine$$ and “work with the company”.
May 12, 2008 at 12:30 pm
bonnie
Is this the same Greg Rubino of Project Water?
May 12, 2008 at 1:25 pm
inmate1972
Project Water? I’m not familiar with it, but he does have a lot of fingers in a lot of different pies.
May 15, 2008 at 12:06 am
Patrick
Please elaborate on your comments pertaining to the LEB plant. Tell us what rumors you are referring to and what should be investigated. We would be very interested in knowing.
May 15, 2008 at 1:20 pm
inmate1972
I heard directly from a pretty well-placed person in state government that LEB is not as environmentally responsible as it ought to be.
May 16, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Patrick
I see. Are they out of compliance? Do they do illegal practices? Are they a big polluter?, etc?
May 16, 2008 at 2:15 pm
inmate1972
Actually, what I typed before is all that the person would say. I hope it’s just a rumor or a misunderstanding because the I’ve heard the people behind LEB wouldn’t tolerate that kind of thing.
June 30, 2008 at 3:16 am
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