Tires to Energy Plant for Erie
I’m inspired by creative ideas to produce alternate energy. But is the proposed tires-to-energy plant in Erie worth the risks? Will our recently celebrated, cleaner Presque Isle Bay become the ultimate victim? Is the Coke plant doing worse things to Erie? Could we use industrial businesses in Erie to stimulate our economy? Is manufacturing dying in Erie? Would business owners really leave Erie if the idea comes to fruition?
From GoErie: “Five years after this community reeled from the loss of IP’s paper mill and its hundreds of jobs, Koehle wonders whether we would welcome that mill and those jobs back to the site.”
The shrinking of Erie’s manufacturing muscle is widely mourned and has produced an identity crisis of sorts focused on the town this used to be. That town was built around factories and smokestacks surrounded by housing.”
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Proposed Tire To Energy Plant Heats Debate in Erie
Erie Bloggers:
- Inmate
I would love to hear your thoughts!
Photography by Jennifer K. Robinson at Walnut Creek in Fairview, PA.
4 Responses to “Tires to Energy Plant for Erie”
June 30th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Any business is needed in Erie right now. I have to question located a tire burning plant right on top of Lake Erie, and in a residential neighborhood. The people who live in that area are very upset at this idea. You would never see this plant located in the Wolf Road area. Why should people on the east side have to live with that pollution? That was a bad place for Hammermill, and would be a bad place for a tire plant. If we are going to have it, at least put it in a less densely populated area that’s not on top of Lake Erie.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Why not knock down a few of the old brick buildings on 12th St. and put it there? One building (12th and Raspberry) just recently had the creeping vines cut off from it, probably because it was a fire hazard, and I had seen those on there for at least 5-6 years that I can remember. Obviously that building isn’t doing much but rotting.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 am
Interesting point, Ron. I think they should explore occupying some of the abandoned buildings downtown. I remember there being a stink about Prep building their new field near 12th & Cherry. It seems that it’s hard to please everyone. We need to do something for Erie’s image and 12th street needs a face lift. Kudos to those behind the improvements so far!
July 25th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I left Erie 12 years ago when the company, Zurn Energy Division, started on it path of shutting down. Zurn was once and industrial leader of waste-to-energy and now its 450 employees and the company are gone.
While I love my home of 12 years in Dallas, I still miss many things about Erie and I especially miss the warm-hearted people and so I want to see good things for Erie.
I think the whole conversation changes if we 1) we assume the plant shall be built and then 2) what can be done to make this plant the cleanest and safest plant in the world producing energy from any fuel. How can we design this to be the alternate energy showplace and a world class example of how energy production and the people it serves benefit from each other? I don’t think the right questions are being asked.
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