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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Pat Harkins |
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Harkins: Power plant meeting reveals dangers of tire burning
ERIE, March 5 – State Rep. Pat Harkins said a recent meeting about the proposed Erie Renewable Energy power plant, which would produce fuel by incinerating tires, underscored environmental and emission concerns among local, state and federal officials and residents.
Harkins said he arranged the meeting and hoped to discourage the Erie Renewable Energy group from building a power plant at the former site of the International Paper Co in Erie. He said representatives from ERE did not attend the meeting.
“I’m disappointed no one from Erie Renewable Energy showed up, but our fears about having a tire-burning plant in the city were reinforced,” Harkins said.
Jeanette Schnars, a local aquatic scientist, presented scientific data on volatile organic compounds, dioxins and furans, PAHs, NOx and SO2, CO, and mercury as well as their biomagnification and potential impacts of small quantities of these contaminants to aquatic organisms. Studies have shown many of these organic contaminants to be mutagenic and carcinogenic.
Harkins pointed out that the president of C.A. Curtze Co., a fifth-generation meat-packing plant in Erie, has said the plant may relocate if the power plant is built.
“Erie Renewable Energy has promised 60 new jobs if the tires-to-energy plant is built,” Harkins said. “C.A. Curtze already provides more than 300 jobs. Erie can’t afford the loss of these jobs, especially with the environmental concerns.”
Harkins said his office has received phone calls from people living in New York and Ohio voicing concerns about the plant.
“The potential health and environmental damage is great and I hope we can garner enough opposition to cause the developers to abandon their plans,” Harkins said.
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