Local News
NIAGARA FALLS: Globe return raises questions
Some residents concerned about past dust from plant
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.
- Local News
-
-
SLIDESHOW: New Niagara USA Visitors Center
Slideshow of the New Niagara USA Visitors Center.
-
AP Sources: Silver, Sampson plan SUNY compromise
A state official involved in the negotiations says Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate leader John Sampson are crafting a bill that would empower the state’s public universities to grow unfettered by Albany and allow them greater control over raising tuition.
-
Ethics panel accuses Rangel of 13 violations
A House investigatory panel is alleging 13 violations of congressional ethics and federal law statutes by veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel.
-
Track set for new Falls train station
The project has been in various stages of discussion in Niagara Falls since the late 1980s.
-
Violante pleads the Fifth on DWI case
Niagara County District Attorney Michael Violante won’t explain why he allowed the daughter of an elected official to avoid a DWI charge last week in a rare plea deal in North Tonawanda City Court.
-
State judge defends court’s handling of case
State Supreme Court Judge Richard Kloch on Wednesday defended the decision of North Tonawanda City Court Judge William Lewis last week to accept a plea deal that spared the daughter of a North Tonawanda councilwoman a DWI trial.
-
District Attorney Michael Violante's statement on Donovan case
The following is an exact transcript of Niagara County District Attorney Michael Violante’s press release issued Wednesday in response to public criticism of a plea deal he offered to the daughter of North Tonawanda Alderwoman Nancy Donovan. Sara E. Donovan was arrested for DWI earlier this month after a one-car accident but instead pleaded guilty to a parking ticket and a speeding ticket.
-
Olive Garden plan approved for Falls
Niagara Falls is one step closer to getting an Olive Garden restaurant.
Members of the city’s planning board on Wednesday approved a site plan for a proposal to build a new Olive Garden near the main entrance to the Walmart plaza off Military Road in LaSalle. -
Questions remain over LaSalle library historic designation proposal
Members of the Niagara Falls Library Board want to discuss a few more details before they agree to lend their support to plans for designating the LaSalle Library building as an historic site.
-
Unusual Special Olympics event set for Seneca Niagara Casino
If everything goes as planned, those little things dangling over the edge of the Seneca Niagara Casino today will be brave volunteers raising funds for the Special Olympics.
- More Local News Headlines
-
