Posted: January 31st, 2012, 12:00am EST
In 2011, concerned citizens of DeKalb County, Georgia initiated the formation of a grassroots community organization, CHASE, to stop the proposed approval of a biomass incinerator. As a watchdog organization, CHASE informs the community of proposed projects that will have a negative environmental impact that can result in illness for DeKalb residents, especially the children. CHASE has challenged Green Energy Partners Inc., a biomass incinerator business, on its proposal to put a plant in Lithonia. Extensive research has shown that it is environmentally unhealthy and can cause or worsen lung diseases such as asthma.