For the last three years, SOBE has managed the formal Youngstown Thermal plant, which supplied heating to a number of buildings in downtown Youngstown. That same company is trying to diversify how the energy is produced.

 If approved by the EPA, the Dublin based company will set up in Youngstown and Lowellville to use waste, plastics and tires to create gas and electricity.  

This has raised concerns over the safety of the operations, particularly when it comes to emissions.

"The byproducts of this if it blows up or catches fire are the same thing you're going to catch in a house fire.", said Silverio Caggiano, a hazmat specialist and retired battalion chief. "Except as firefighters we have SCBA's that can protect us from this stuff.

A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12, where members of the public and city leaders can ask questions or raise concerns to SOBE officials.

"We need to get data from their process to see what the emissions actually are, to see what the process actually is, and we have to be able to judge that before anything like this moves to Youngstown." said Lynn Anderson, who helped to put Wednesday's public meeting together.

First ward councilman Julius Oliver tells 21 News that while it's a great concept and opportunity for jobs in the city, concerns and questions over safety still remain.