Green Energy Forum October 10th, 2012

Now that Leucadia is no longer an issue of concern for the residents of the Southeast side, SETF, along with their EJ Alliance partners is planning to investigate better alternatives. Contrary to what some people believe, we support new development for the area.  Because the 10th ward has some of the largest tracts of vacant land it is key  to providing jobs, taxes and development opportunities for the city. But we want to see a comprehensive plan of sustainable development and not this piece meal approach that has been taken thus far. With the large number of contiguous acres of land available, opportunity exists for innovative thinking to be applied to produce a plan for an Eco-industrial park that would be an asset to our community and a model for the rest of the country.

To find out how you can help direct this effort and to learn more about what opportunities might exist, come to our Community Forum on October 10th at the Zone. 

Southeast Enviornmental Task Force Rallies with EJ Alliance

Hi again from John. I was with the taskforce again on Tuesday July 10^th for a rally to veto the Leucadia Bill. SETF was there to deliver over 11 thousand petitions from the residents of the Southeast Side to Governor Quinn’s representatives at the Thompson Center. Leucadia’s Coal Gasification Plant plans are being touted as “clean coal” but residents of the Calumet Region know firsthand that coal is a dirty business. Coal Gasification takes coal and a petroleum coke (a byproduct of oil refineries) and combines them under extreme pressure and temperatures to create synthetic natural gas. Hauling and storage of the raw materials produces particulates linked to Asthma rates and other health problems, not to mention soil quality and wildlife issues. The Southeast Side is the home to numerous protected and endangered bird species that make their nesting and migratory homes there, including a pair of bald eagles. Adding another dirty industry to the region would only compound the scarring. Leucadia wants the state to legislate the utility companies to buy their syngas at a fixed price for 30 years and force the consumer to use this product without even the option of using traditional natural gas.  They also want consumers and taxpayers to fund the almost $4 billion needed to build the plant.
John Rossi

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