Kent County’s Waste-to-Energy facility located near downtown Grand Rapids at 950 Market Ave. SW burns solid waste producing electricity sold to Consumers Energy.
“Incinerators create some of the most toxic emissions, dioxins, and furans. Some of the most toxic substances that we know as human beings.”
Dr. Kathryn Savoie is Director of Equity and Environmental Justice with the Ecology Center. She was joined by a number of environmentalists less than a mile from the incinerator.
“The Black Hills, the Rosevelt Park Neighborhood where Black and Brown communities live is downwind from the incinerator.”
Sergio Cira-Reyes is Environmental Justice Team lead strategist at Urban Core Collective. He and gathered activists calling on legislators to exclude the Kent County incinerator from the proposed Michigan Senate Clean Energy bill.
“So, we need it to be legislation that is strong and it is effective and actually meets the goals that are stated.”
Janet Zahn is co-chair with Grand Rapids Climate Coalition.
“Our ultimate goal is that the incinerator ceases to operate. But it will be much harder for that to happen if it is carved out in this bill and described and labelled as clean renewable energy.’
The local environmental groups are asking lawmakers to stand with them seeking truly sustainable solutions for both energy and waste.