Environmental Review for Plasma Arc Gasification Suspended - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

SALINAS, Calif. -- The Salinas Valley Waste Authority says the Plasco Energy Group has temporarily suspended the proposed Plasma Arc Gasification project. The waste authority says Plasco requested that the project be put in abeyance until there is more clarification on the electricity produced and if it will qualify as renewable energy.

In May CalRecycle reversed it's November 2010 determination of the Plasco proposal, saying group met the definition of gasification. Based on that decision the California Energy Commission said the Plasco project is eligible for renewal energy credits which would allow the project to continue.   

Art Gasification is the heating process called plasma gasification that takes solid waste and converts it into clean gas. That gas, syngas, is used to produce electricity. The goal of this project is to end burying more than 167,000 tons of trash that is generated in the Salinas Valley every year.