Cleveland views the technology has a clean waste-disposal alternative that can provide 6 percent of Cleveland Public Power’s peak load and save the city $6 million a year in landfill fees.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is off to Japan to study a system that converts garbage into electricity as the city awaits state permission to build a $150 million plant employing such technology.
Jack will observe the “thermal gasification” process.
Thermal gasification involves use of high temperatures to convert trash – minus recycled material – to synthetic gas. The gas is burned to produce steam that powers turbines,
Cleveland views the technology has a clean waste-disposal alternative that can provide 6 percent of Cleveland Public Power’s peak load and save the city $6 million a year in landfill fees.
It is a proposal that needs to become a reality as we continue in these tough economic times for all; including municipalities.
The concept of trash to energy is nothing new. Such a plant has existed in Akron for decades. The big difference, however, is in the technology that the Japanese can provide to the City of Cleveland.
City officials are visiting Japan for the third time in two years and the Japanese company that has the technological know-how have made several trips here.
As Greater Cleveland continues to shrink in population and we have to do more with less, we believe that implementing such a technology would be a win-win for all involved.
We hope that the mayor’s trip to Japan is fruitful.
