Leadership Meadville teaming up to weigh pros and cons of tires-to-energy proposal

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December 8, 2010

By Mary Spicer Meadville Tribune The Meadville Tribune Wed Dec 08, 2010, 07:00 AM EST

MEADVILLE —

Since September, the 17 participants in Leadership Meadville 2010 have devoted the second Friday of each month to a day-long immersion in a subject or industry vital to the Crawford County community.

This Friday will be no exception — but this time, the public is invited to observe part of the process. Beginning at 2:30 p.m., Meadville City Building at the corner of Water and Arch streets will be the site of an hour-long exploration of the fine art of debate.

The topic of discussion will be the tires-to-energy facility proposed by Crawford Renewable Energy LLC for Greenwood Township. Required to set aside any personal opinions already formed on the subject, members of the class were assigned to prepare “pro” and “con” arguments for the debate based on the drawing of straws.

The proposed $337 million facility, located on an 80-acre section of Keystone Regional Industrial Park in Greenwood Township, would produce 90 megawatts of electricity using tire-derived fuel. The application for an air quality permit — a key phase in the project’s development — is now undergoing technical review by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, a permit application for waste tire processing and storage of tire-derived fuel was received on Nov. 20 and an application for industrial waste-water treatment has been received within the past few days, DEP spokesperson Freda Tarbell said Tuesday.

At this point, developers are waiting for the application process to run its course; the ultimate length of the permitting process will be determined by whether information beyond that included the original application must be submitted.

Developing local leadership

Sponsored by Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, the mission of the Leadership Meadville program is “to identify and develop current and future leaders through a comprehensive program designed to increase knowledge and awareness of the issues and challenges facing this community.”

During an application process that ended in early August, individuals were selected to participate in the class based on their ability to demonstrate leadership potential.

So far, day-long sessions have focused on agriculture, education and public safety. Friday’s focus will be on economic development, while future sessions will explore topics including tool and die, health care, media, manufacturing, and judicial and government.

According to Meadville resident and Leadership Meadville participant Scott Sjolander, a forestry educator with Penn State University, the sessions have been time well spent. “I think that this program is an excellent way for people to get to know the kind of folks who run our local economy — and all the systems that go into being a community,” he said. “You work with people you wouldn’t ordinarily work with; as you work, you find new dimensions of yourself, too.”

Leadership Meadville participant Angela Barnes, administrative assistant for Meadville Redevelopment Authority, is looking forward to the entire session, which will begin at 7:30 a.m. and include visits to Keystone Regional Industrial Park (the former Avtex Fibers facility in Vernon Township) and Crawford Woodlands before stopping for lunch and then touring area economic “hot spots” including @ the Bank in downtown Meadville.

With all that under their belts, the group will make its way to the City Building, where the debate will begin at 2:30 p.m. Before winding up their day at 4 p.m., participants will also hear presentations on workforce development, business financing and loan applications.

“I’m interested in how the day overall will go,” Barnes said. “I think a lot of the classmates will be surprised at the economic development that’s taken place within the city over the past several years. ... It will be good to have a day focusing on the positive.”

As for the debate, the “pro” and “con” teams have been meeting to prepare for the session. “We were assigned, not given personal choice,” Barnes stressed, noting that it’s been interesting to see how people’s opinions have developed as they researched their topics.

“Privately, I don’t know where to stand,” Sjolander said. “I’ve only looked at one part of it. As a larger issue, I’m glad I don’t have to make up my mind over it.”

For Sjolander, the bottom line is simple, even if the tires-to-energy debate isn’t.

“It’s like being back in school,” he said of the Leadership Meadville experience. “It’s been a real pleasure to be part of the class. I’ve had a lot of fun — it’s been a great experience.”

Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.

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Leadership Meadville teaming up to weigh pros and cons of tires-to-energy proposal

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