BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:www.indybay.org PRODID:-//indybay/ical// v1.0//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:Indybay-41323 SEQUENCE:41323 CREATED:20040628T204500Z DESCRIPTION:This is so far the most important meeting regarding the study of a garbage “gasification” plant, an incinerator in disguise, by Alameda City! We can stop the study and promote public health and the pursuit of better energy alternatives and zero-waste programs. This campaign could have national and possibly broader implications – don’t pave the way for gasification in other places! Alameda Power and Telecom TOWN MEETING Tuesday June 29, 2004 7:00 pm Alameda City Hall 2263 Santa Clara, 3rd Floor (at Oak Street) Read the lastest article: Preliminary study examines heating waste materials until they become synthetic gas By John Geluardi, CORRESPONDENT ALAMEDA -- The Island's power company is seeking public comment next week on a controversial $500,000 study of a proposed "gasification plant" that would convert garbage into elec-tricity. The study, prepared by Concord-based Advanced Energy Strategies, considers the viability of the new concept of heating waste materials, such as papers and plastics, at an extremely high temperature until they are broken down into a synthetic gas. The synthetic gas, called "syngas," would then be used to fuel conventional turbines generating electricity. According to Alameda Power & Telecom officials, gasification may be able to inexpensively produce as much as 20 percent of Alameda's electricity needs and at the same time reduce pressure on landfills. But even though the gasification plant is still in an exploratory stage, it has generated considerable opposition. Some San Leandro residents are balking at locating the gasification plant at the Davis Street Transfer Station because of potential adverse health effects caused by the process. Members of Greenaction, a San Francisco-based health and environmental justice group, contend the gasification process, which they say is basically incineration, causes harmful emissions of toxins such as dioxin, sulfur trioxides and mercury. They claim the high volume of waste required to generate synthetic gas would significantly reduce the amount of waste materials currently being recycled. The federal Environmental Protection Agency considers dioxin a highly toxic substance. According to the EPA Web site, exposure to elevated levels may cause cancer, birth defects and skin diseases. Greenaction Community Organizer Francesca Francia said community members from Alameda, Oakland and San Leandro have organized the Tri-City Coalition for Alternatives to Incineration to oppose the project. Francia said much of the opposition is based on past experiences with waste incinerators and the poor performance of the Brightstar gasification plant in Wollongog, Australia. Brightstar, one of the only gasification plants in the world, recently closed. "Brightstar exceeded emission levels for several toxic substances, including dioxin, arsenic and sulphuric acid," she said. "But regardless of toxic emissions, the fact is Brightstar had a lot of operating problems, and the community was against it." Alameda Power & Telecom spokesman Bill Garvine said Alameda is facing a reduction in its current power supply, and the city is on the verge of a growth spurt, which will increase the demand for elec-tricity. The largest development is expected to occur at Alameda Point. At 770 acres, the former Naval air station is the largest undeveloped property in the Bay Area. Garvine did not dispute the claim the gasification process creates emissions, but he said the real question is whether they would be harmful. "Gasification is an emerging technology, and with the responsibility of providing Alameda's future electricity needs, we thought maybe we ought to look at the possibility of constructing a plant," he said. "(Gasification) may be a great thing for society, and it also may not be. That's why we commissioned the study, to learn more about it." Garvine said Alameda Power has no intention of developing a gasification plant if it is likely to cause harm. He pointed out that 91 percent of Alameda's electricity is generated from renewable sources, one of the highest percentages of any municipality in the state. About 53 percent comes from geothermal sources, and another 38 percent from hydroelectricity. The rest comes from traditional gas-driven turbines. "We have demonstrated that we care a great deal about what our renew For more information about the Tri-City Coalition for Alternatives to Incineration and to get involved, contact Greenaction at 415-248-5010 http://www.greenaction.org \n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/06/28/41323.php SUMMARY:Public Comment on AP & T plans for incinerator in East Bay LOCATION:Alameda City Hall 2263 Santa Clara, 3rd Floor (at Oak Street) URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/06/28/41323.php DTSTART:20040630T020000Z DTEND:20040630T040000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR