Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Washington Department of Ecology has ordered a waste-to-energy company in Pasco to shut down immediately.

Green Power Inc. recently built a $25 million plant to convert municipal garbage into synthetic diesel fuel.

Company CEO Michael Spitzauer describes himself as “shocked” and vows to fight the order to stop operating.

Michael Spitzauer: “Citizens of this country, and countries around the world, have a right to convert their trash into fuel, which is much cleaner and much cheaper than fossil fuel. We know we are not emitting any dangerous gases.”

The Department of Ecology maintains the young company deliberately failed to get needed air quality permits before starting construction.

Regulators worry the new trash-to-energy process could release cancer-causing emissions.

The Green Power company says its plant has so far run just in a demonstration mode and is not in commercial production.

Online:

Green Power Inc.

Washington Department of Ecology