Trash Vaporizing Facility May Not Come to Marion

Plans for a long awaited trash to energy plasma facility in Marion or Cedar Rapids may have been derailed, despite years of negotiations and a contract with Marion.

Jim Juranitch, CEO of the company that sought to bring the plant to the area — Florida-based Plasma Power LLC — met with the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency board earlier this week and spoke on his difficulties in acquiring funding for the site.

So far, it seems as though there are three significant hurdles, according to the Gazette.

1. Plasma Power has missed a federal grant for renewable energy.

2. The company needs to have an agreement with a local utility — in this case Alliant Energy — before they can sell the energy they would produce once the plant is up and running. Plasma Power has met with Alliant and has reported they have been close to signing a deal, but no deal has been signed so far.

3. Juranitch met with the Cedar Rapids City Council and asked for a financial commitment from the city, but was turned down.

What does this mean for the facility's future?

Juranitch reminded the board that he "has not given up" on the project, but mentioned that he's working with a dozen other potential customers.

He said he'll likely can the plans if he's not able to build the plant within two years but promised to report back to the board.