A proposed Elbert County trash incinerator near the Madison County line has been approved by Elbert commissioners, but a regional board will soon continue its review of the project to determine if it is appropriate for the area.
After consultations with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission has decided to resume its Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review of Plant Granite, a proposed waste-to-energy trash incinerator about 1.25 miles from the Madison County line.
That DRI committee will meet at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 27, in the NEGRC Large Conference Room.
“At this meeting the DRI committee will review the proposed development and determine whether the development is or is not in the best interest of the region,” said Jim Moneyhun in an email about the review.
In January, the NGRC postponed a review of Plant Granite, seeking more information on the proposal before making a recommendation.
Then in February, the Elbert County commissioners unanimously approved the proposed incinerator by GreenFirst LLC. Roughly one billion tons of trash per year could be burned at the site.
Proponents of the plan say it will be environmentally sound and that it bring needed tax revenue and jobs to Elbert County. Opponents say the incinerator will have a harmful impact on the environment, public health and public roads.
Citizens for Public Awareness, a group opposing the plan, gathered signatures for a petition with the aim of forcing a referendum on the proposed facility. Though the petition contained enough valid signatures to force a referendum, Elbert County Probate Judge Susan Sexton ruled that the state Constitution did not recognize the petition as legally valid way to address the BOC decision.
Representatives for the citizens group said after the ruling that they will continue to fight the incinerator.
