A major roadblock now stands in the way of SOBE Thermal Energy's plans to move a waste to energy plant in Downtown Youngstown. 

Youngstown City Council unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on pyrolysis and gasification facilities in the city. Council members and environmentalists say that even if those final EPA permits are issued, this moratorium still restricts SOBE from moving forward.

"The moratorium is a big step," said Susie Beiersdorfer, a member of SOBE Concerned Citizens. "It's been beautiful in the way our community has come together to work for the health and safety of everyone in our community."

The council believes this adds more teeth to the formal resolution council passed earlier this year, stating its disapproval of the concept.

In the council's ordinance to impose the moratorium, they say that SOBE would operate on a parcel currently zoned as a Mixed-Use Community District, meaning that the area is NOT zoned for industrial or energy production facilities. 

SOBE would use scraps of tire chips without air to extract a gas, known as synthesis gas, or syngas, and burn the gas in boilers to produce hot water. This would create heat for SOBE's 30-plus clients. 

"Between poverty, health issues, the hospital, and the jail, you have so many components that just make it the wrong place," explained Councilman Mike Ray. "This just solidifies the community's message that this is not a good fit from an environmental and social justice component."

Councilman Ray said even if the Ohio EPA issues the final permits, the moratorium will supersede this process.

"You can still get a permit but it doesn't mean you can operate," he explained. "You can get a liquor license but you can't put an establishment next to somewhere where it doesn't apply."

"In his [CEO David Ferro] mind, if he gets the final permit from the EPA, he may think it's a go-ahead," Beiersdorfer said. "On the grounds of the building, zoning and putting in a construction permit, I don't see how he can just think he can just go over our heads and local government. This is still something everyone needs to keep an eye on. We can't sit back now thinking we're done."

Councilwoman Turner wants to see a third-party investigation into the environmental and public health impacts of the plant.

"If we want to stop a business from coming into our city we need a real investigation from a third party that is not as emotionally tied to this," Turner said. "If we are not satisfied with how the EPA handles their processes, and that's what happened here, they can receive their permits just by following the rule. The residents weren't happy. If you feel the EPA's regulations and opposition to moving your community forward, then we need to go out and say yes this is why we feel this way and this is why you shouldn't issue a permit."

"The communities throughout the region deserve a future built on renewable energy and sustainable economies rather than fossil fuels in sacrifice zones," said Chris Colon, Northeast Ohio Regional Director of the Ohio Environmental Council to the crowd Wednesday. 

Resident Leigh Greene spoke publically at Wednesday's meeting, and explained Youngstown residents deserve a healthy environment to live in. Greene said she works at Mercy Health, just north of where the plant would be located. "I will be surrounded by those particles in every aspect of my life, where I live, worship, and work. The moratorium needed to be passed."

The vote in favor of the moratorium came with a strong wave of support from Youngstown folks in a pact house Wednesday, hoping for a healthier tomorrow.

The moratorium takes effect and will be in force immediately. 21 News reached out to SOBE CEO David Ferro on his response to the moratorium and have yet to hear back.