Neighbors Express Concerns about Plasma Gasification Plant

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

More than two dozen residents of the area around tax incentives for the planned plasma gasification plant at 5575 Dobbins Bridge Rd expressed concerns about the facility at county council Tuesday, and more than a dozen spoke for a total of almost an hour saying the facility would increase heavy truck traffic, noise and potentially various forms of pollution.

The business, not named under a South Carolina law allowing companies to shield their identity until third reading in financial deals to protect themselves from potential competitors, was approved by council on second reading Tuesday.

“I feel that location is not the proper place for such a facility surrounded by such beautiful farmland,” said Kevin Wiles, who lives in the area near the site. “There are possible health risks, soil and water concerns, and detriment to surrounding property values. Nobody wants to live near a waste facility, and no one wants to farm near one either.

Others echoed his concerns.

The new business is projected to bring a $51 million investment and 54 jobs. The company, code named “Project Pine,” is a plasma gasification concern, and the jobs will pay an average of $53 per hour. Anderson County Economic Development Director Burriss Nelson said the first-year economic impact of the company is projected at $37 million.

A third reading is required and Council Chairman Tommy Dunn promised a community meeting with the company and the residents before third reading.

“Before third reading, we’ll have a community meeting with someone from the company there to answer questions,” said Dunn, adding that without countywide zoning, “worse things” could be put on that property.

Nelson said the company would provide a “closed system” to annihilate expired and unneeded pharmaceuticals – but no controlled substances - at the rate of about a ton a day, requiring a single truck to bring in and leave with materials. The percentage of annual pharmaceutical waste varies but is estimated to be between 10-40 percent. This includes both unused and expired medications from households and healthcare facilities. Factors like medication adherence, improper disposal, and over-prescription contribute to this waste.

Unlike a conventional waste-to-energy process that relies on combustion, plasma gasification uses a plasma torch to subject waste materials to temperatures reaching into the tens of thousands of degrees. This intense electrical arc breaks down garbage at a molecular level, converting it into a synthesis gas, or "syngas," which is composed primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

This syngas can then be captured and used to generate electricity or heat, providing a new source of energy from materials that would otherwise be sent to a landfill. In the case of Project Pine that material would be pharmaceutical waste.

The byproducts of the process are melted and vitrified into a solid, inert slag that can be recycled, often as a material for construction.

The method could offer a promise of a cleaner energy production cycle, as it avoids the harmful emissions commonly associated with burning trash. By converting waste into a usable fuel and a recyclable solid, plasma gasification aims to address two critical challenges at once: waste management and the demand for energy. Some studies have suggested it is a more sustainable method for dealing with waste, including hazardous waste such as pharmaceuticals, than landfills or traditional incineration.

Nelson said the county would not have worked with the company to provide incentives if it was not safe and clean, adding that it is a highly regulated industry.

“There are billion-dollar projects the county has not pursued because we are careful about what we bring here,” said Nelson.

“There has been a lot of speculation and we need to try to get some information out there so everybody knows and understands,” said Councilman Greg Elgin.

County officials are working this week to set up the community meeting before the third reading of the ordinance providing tax incentives for the company.

Also on Tuesday, council:

Gave final approval to tax incentives for the warehouse owned by 134 Long Road Owner, LLC. Councilwoman Cindy Wilson, who was the lone vote against the measure, which had been tabled in the previous council meeting, said neighbors were still unhappy with the lighting of the building. Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders said the owners of the property had worked closely with council on concerns in the area and had more than met the standards and concerns.