What happened to gasification plant in Marion?

It's time to return to yesteryear. The Marion plasma arc gasification plant, rise again!

The city of Marion and Linn County have been placed in the position of adding taxpayer expense by the Solid Waste Agency's lack of action.

The Gazette reported in a December 2010 article, 'Plasma arc plant a go in Marion,” as a result of a City Council vote in favor of the project. The purpose of the plasma arc plant was to drastically reduce solid waste into the landfill, extending its life, and producing byproducts of steam electricity for utilities to use. It was to be built to serve Marion, Linn County and electric utilities.

There would be no need for new land acquisition to create added space for a landfill if the plasma arc plant had been constructed. A savings to Alliant Energy customers should have been realized by use of the steam and electricity produced. Electric rate increases could have been reduced or delayed using the plasma arc plant.

It is time for Marion, Linn County and Alliant Energy to cooperate and get the plasma arc plant up and running - saving taxes and maintaining or reducing electric utility rates. Protect the Earth by getting this in operation as quickly as possible.

Bert Graham

Marion