http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/Citizens-to-Protest-Proposed-DeKalb-Gas-Incinerator-Plant-20110613-am-sd
Updated: Monday, 13 Jun 2011, 6:21 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 13 Jun 2011, 10:57 AM EDT
By MYFOXATLANTA STAFF/myfoxatlanta
DECATUR, Ga. - Outraged citizens rallied in DeKalb County on Monday, protesting plans for a proposed biomass energy plant near Lithonia. The plant is planned for Rodgers Lake Road in south DeKalb County in a community which includes both homes and industrial business.
Protestors say the same project was initially proposed for north DeKalb County, but once it was rejected there, it was then slated to be built near Lithonia. Residents there say they don’t want it in their community.
“I don't understand why at this point they would continue to want to move things here when there are families and children here,” said Tandelya Banks, a resident who lives about a mile from the proposed site.
The area is home to a waste transfer station, landfills, trucking companies, and auto salvage businesses. Banks says she has watched with growing frustration as a steady stream of commercial and industrial businesses have moved into the community over the years.
Outraged residents rallied at the Maloof building on Monday, armed with a petition signed by people opposed to the project and reams of documents they say support their claim that the plant will burn harmful carcinogens and release tons of pollution into the air.
DeKalb County Commissioner Lee May backs the proposal. He says he believes residents are misguided, saying they don’t understand the technology and they’re protesting a renewable energy project that will convert wood chips into electricity, part of the national green movement.
“We've had that happen where they come in and say they are going to do one thing then they come in and do something else,” said Banks. “It's just too much-- we actually don't trust anybody to come in here to this area. We have to stand up as citizens paying our taxes and look out for ourselves.”
The group leading the fight against the plan says they are also launching a recall effort against Commissioner May and anyone else who supports the plant. The commission is set to take up the issue on Tuesday morning.
Protestors say the same project was initially proposed for north DeKalb County, but once it was rejected there, it was then slated to be built near Lithonia. Residents there say they don’t want it in their community.
“I don't understand why at this point they would continue to want to move things here when there are families and children here,” said Tandelya Banks, a resident who lives about a mile from the proposed site.
The area is home to a waste transfer station, landfills, trucking companies, and auto salvage businesses. Banks says she has watched with growing frustration as a steady stream of commercial and industrial businesses have moved into the community over the years.
Outraged residents rallied at the Maloof building on Monday, armed with a petition signed by people opposed to the project and reams of documents they say support their claim that the plant will burn harmful carcinogens and release tons of pollution into the air.
DeKalb County Commissioner Lee May backs the proposal. He says he believes residents are misguided, saying they don’t understand the technology and they’re protesting a renewable energy project that will convert wood chips into electricity, part of the national green movement.
“We've had that happen where they come in and say they are going to do one thing then they come in and do something else,” said Banks. “It's just too much-- we actually don't trust anybody to come in here to this area. We have to stand up as citizens paying our taxes and look out for ourselves.”
The group leading the fight against the plan says they are also launching a recall effort against Commissioner May and anyone else who supports the plant. The commission is set to take up the issue on Tuesday morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment