NIAGARA FALLS: Globe return raises questions

Local News

July 9, 2008

Some residents concerned about past dust from plant

By Rick Forgione<br><a href="mailto:forgioner@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Rick</a> The Niagara Gazette Wed Jul 09, 2008, 10:37 PM EDT

Like a lot of North End residents, Willie Dunn is excited to hear 500 jobs will be coming back to the area with the reopening of the old Globe Metallurgical plant on Highland Avenue.

That doesn’t mean he or his neighbors are welcoming the industrial facility back with open arms.

“I think there’s concern from people living in the area who were exposed to gritty material when that plant was in operation,” said Dunn, executive director of the Highland Community Revitalization Committee. “I’ve already heard from many residents asking if that’s going to be a problem again.”

Specifically, residents are concerned about breathing in any hazardous material or residue, he said.

Dunn was able to address that question with representatives from Globe Metallurgical during an informational presentation Wednesday at the Niagara Falls Planning Board meeting. He was assured steps are being taken involving the installation and creation of better filtering systems that will reduce — if not eliminate — the amount of residue and emissions from the plant once it reopens by the end of the year.

“The goal is to make this a cleaner operation than perhaps it had been in the past,” said Adam S. Walters, a partner with Phillips Lytle LLP, which is representing Globe Metallurgical.

Dunn left the meeting not completely satisfied, however, and vowed to keep a close watch as the project moves forward.

One of the world’s largest producers of metallurgical and chemical-grade silicon metal and silicon-based specialty alloys, Globe announced in May plans to reopen and expand production at its old plant on Highland Avenue, which closed down production and moved to Ohio in 2003.

The $60 million investment would create 500 “green collar” jobs, most of which will be tied to the construction of a new 100,000-square-foot facility by Solsil, Inc., a subsidiary of Globe that refines silicon metal to create solar panels.

Skip Davis, vice president of operations for Globe, said the company is pleased to restart operations in the Falls, pointing out the existing facilities and equipment meant a faster turnaround. He added Globe is working with the city to hire local residents to fill the “semi-skill” positions.

The first phase of the project consists of restarting operations at an existing building, creating about 100 jobs, Walters said. Globe and Solsil will then submit a site plan to the planning board for permission to build the new facility sometime this fall.

Globe officials said the expansion could be operational by 2011 and will turn out 4,000 tons of solar-grade silicon per year, enough to produce 500 megawatts of solar power.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Falls cops arrest pot and heroin dealers
February 10, 2012 2 Photos
Staff cuts, large tax increase being considered to fill N-W's $10.M deficit
February 10, 2012
Police searching for jewelry thief caught on tape
February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Child run over be car on Niagara Avenue
Falls Traffic Division investigators said an 11-year-old boy was struck after he darted into the street, in front of a car as it pulled away from a stop sign.

February 9, 2012 2 Photos
Gerber resigns from SPCA board; calls for adding veterinarian to staff
A Town of Niagara veterinarian and long-time member of the SPCA of Niagara Board of Directors has stepped down.
Dr. William Gerber submitted his resignation on Tuesday. It was effective immediately.

February 9, 2012
Militello paid $50K to leave Niagara-Wheatfield
Former Niagara-Wheatfield Superintendent Carl Militello is receiving a $50,000 from the district, according to a separation settlement agreed to on Feb. 1.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Joseph Davis State Park gets some green
Officials in the Town of Lewiston received approval Thursday to spend a significant portion of the community’s incoming greenway funds on the redevelopment of Joseph Davis State Park.

February 9, 2012 5 Photos
Has NYPA relicensing agreement led to a revival?
A state senator is calling for an audit of the low-cost power and cash used in the last seven years by Niagara County entities that have shared in the benefits of the 50-year relicensing agreement with the New York Power Authority.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Autopsy unable to determine cause or time of Judith Burr’s death
An autopsy by an Erie County Medical Examiner has failed to determine either the time of death or the cause of death of Judith Burr.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Search continues for Falls jumper
State Park Police were still searching Thursday for a Falls man who jumped from the rapids bridge at Goat Island on Wednesday morning.

February 9, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?