YOUNGSTOWN — A clean energy organization awarded its Energy Justice Champion Award to Youngstown for its efforts to oppose SOBE Thermal Energy Systems LLC’s plans to use a method to convert rubber tire chips into synthetic gas at its location in the city.

Power a Clean Future Ohio, formed in 2020 to develop and implement climate solutions at the local level, said it recognized Youngstown “for its commitment to protecting the well-being of residents by standing up to ill-advised development proposals and thoroughly investigating the environmental and health impacts of a proposed waste-to-energy plant. Listening to the voices of their residents, the city ultimately issued a moratorium on development.”

Youngstown beat three other finalists for the award: Cleveland, Maple Heights and Oakwood Village, all in Cuyahoga County.

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, who accepted the honor for the city, said, “This award is a testament to the power of listening to our community and prioritizing their health and well-being. In Youngstown, we believe that every energy decision we make should serve our residents equitably and be made in the best interest of the next generation.”

Youngstown City Council on Nov. 20 approved a second one-year moratorium on the process SOBE plans to use at its 205 North Ave. plant, which is a short distance from downtown. The first moratorium was passed Dec. 20, 2023, and city officials say they don’t ever plan to lift it.

The synthetic gas used from the rubber tire chips is planned to be used by SOBE for steam energy for downtown businesses as well as sold to companies for other purposes.

The Ohio EPA on Feb. 14 issued an “air permit to install and operate” to SOBE to shred tires that would be converted into gas at its Youngstown plant over numerous objections from city officials and residents. SOBE applied for the permit in September 2022.

City officials repeatedly have said the project needs approval from Youngstown for a zoning change to move forward, and they oppose that. They’ve also raised environmental concerns about the process.

David Ferro, SOBE’s CEO, has said the company planned to only use shredded tires and it would be “very clean with zero hazardous waste and zero hazardous emissions.” He also disagrees that SOBE needs a zoning change from the city.

Opponents of the project have said the synthetic gas is toxic and a highly explosive hazardous material and that air emissions would threaten public health. Nearly 100 people attended an Aug. 10, 2023, public hearing to express opposition to the EPA granting the permit to SOBE.

The EPA stated Feb. 14 that it would allow SOBE to install a “thermolyzer unit to process tire chips. The unit will produce a synthetic gas that would serve as a supplemental fuel in two existing natural gas-fire boilers that are already installed, operated and permitted. The permit does meet the applicable Ohio environmental rules and regulations so Ohio EPA is obligated to issue a permit.”

Based in Dublin, Ohio, SOBE acquired the former Youngstown Thermal LLC and Youngstown Thermal Cooling LLC in November 2021 for $250,000. The company had managed the facility for about two years prior.

Power a Clean Future Ohio also gave its Environmental Innovator Award to Cuyahoga County for creating the first municipal utility in the state focusing entirely on renewable energy and its Clean Energy Innovator Award to Lima for a solar energy project at its water treatment facility.