Posted on 04/28/2005 9:30:16 AM PDT by areafiftyone
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is backing a plan to burn old tires to supply energy to an upstate New York paper mill that will produce clouds of acrid black smoke - a proposal that has nearby residents in a panic over potential health risks.
In an April 13 letter to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Clinton urged that the agency approve a two-week test burn at International Paper's Ticonderoga, N.Y., mill – adjacent to environmentally pristine Lake Champlain.
"I know that some are concerned about the potential air quality impact of burning tires at the mill," she wrote, before explaining that she agreed with IP's claims that pollution from the tire smoke won't be too harmful.
The top Democrat said the health risks were worth taking for the good of the local economy.
"I am strongly committed to working to ensure that IP's Ticonderoga mill continues to thrive and provide hundreds of good-paying jobs in Ticonderoga and the surrounding communities for generations," she explained.
Clinton's support for the tire burn has prompted heated protest from Vermont Gov. James Douglas, whose constituents live downwind of the Ticonderoga plant.
"Governor Douglas believes we need people in the United States Senate who understand how important it is to protect and improve our environment," his press secretary blasted, in quotes picked up by the Barre Montpelier Times Argus.
Ironically, Sen. Clinton made air quality a cause celebre two years ago when she accused the Bush adminsitration of covering up dangerous levels of toxic air at Ground Zero in the days after the 9/11 attack.
"[The EPA] knew and they didn't tell us the truth and the White House told them not to tell us the truth," the top Democrat fumed at the time.
"This is a very big issue," she continued. "It not only has to do with the health and safety of the people I represent, it has to do with the credibility and trust of this entire government."
Like her fellow Democrats, the tire-burn-backing Clinton opposes drilling in ANWR.
There are better uses for old tires than burning them for energy. TXDOT uses ground up tires mixed with asphalt to pave dangerous curves on roads. It is designed to let rain water soak through it, and not stand on the road surface.
They paved a 2 mile, extremely dangerous section of the road I use every day. Prior to the "new" pavement, there were 5 - 6 deaths on that short stretch of road. Since the repave two years ago, only two accidents and no deaths or injuries.
Its not so much that the idea is good or bad...its that Hitlery backs it after opposing each and every measure in the past.
Had this been a Bush proposal, I seriously doubt it would get her hearty endorsement.
Plus, that line:[paraphrased]the health of a few don't matter to the good of all???
Are we kidding here?
"It is oxidized to SO2 which, when it cools with the water vapor in the exhaust stream, produces a goodly amount of sulfuric acid."
Yet if the tires are introduced into the fuel stream of a coal burning plant, there is a good chance that there is a SO2 scrubber downstream.
That's too funny! They don't want to burn coal because it's too dirty, but they are going to burn tires???? This woman is not as smart as the media would have us believe.
LMAO! Haaahahahaaa /falls over
Fifty dollars a barrel.
Indeed, there are several fossil fuel power plants that shred tires and burn them right along with the coal. One of our plants burns tires in accordance with the permit issued by the state.
Its a great additive fuel source and the existing exhaust filtering manages the pollution along with the PRB coal exhaust.
I'm not to sure a paper mill, if I read that right, would be a very good application though. I can't imagine them generating enough heat to burn everything properly.
(Or "Tahr Fahr," as we say in the South.)
Oh yeah - this oughta win friends and influence the Environmentalist Whackos!
Not to mention that the pollution standards seem to be relaxed more at night when the gubmint observers are off-duty! ;^)
I don't doubt that you are correct. I imagine that the tires will be shredded into small pieces so that they will burn rapidly in a forced draft (maybe a balanced draft) furnace.
Actually, there's been a tire-to-energy power plant in the next town over from my house, in Sterling, CT, for many years. Very high tech "catalytic" process with less particulate output into the air then a few semi's. So it's been told to us all. No smell or visible smoke. Much, much steam. Freaky on those cold winter days. Can see the plant steam from a hill top in Norwich, CT
Loads of problems due to the complexity of the technology and temps involved. But at least no huge crater in it's place yet.
Do you want 30 or so semi's full of tires rolling by your house every day? Eatin' up the roads pretty good too, with all that weight.
Maybe someday the Clintons could be marooned to the Island of Broken Sex Toys.
Tghe problem with that is, it wears out eventually. Then what are you gonna do with it? It can't be recycled.
Follow the Money.
Did Goodyear give Hillary a few million? Did some environmental group deposit money in her Cayman Island account?
Yes, it can be recycled. They grind it back off the road, add more tar and extra rocks to the mixture and repave with it again.
My fishing buddy works for TXDOT, and he told us about that process. The only problem with it is that the more it is recycled, the harder it is to get a smooth surface.
NO KIDDING! I could have told you that! Just remember when people tell you Hillary is the "smartest woman in the world" they are LYING! She's an IDIOT!
She wanted to build power plants when there are at least three within a 90 mile radius in our area that can't sell the power now. Two of them (brand new) are shut down. She doesn't have a clue.
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