Vaporized Trash OKed in Marion

In a special meeting held Monday night, the Marion City Council approved a revised contract to supply garbage for a trash vaporizing facility.

The contract is between the city of Marion and Plasma Power LLC., a Florida based company that specializes in plasma arc technology, a process where trash is converted to an inert rock and a gas with similar properties to natural gas.

The decision came after the Marion City Council tabled the contract last Thursday, pending changes to the contract.

Marion City Administrator Lon Pluckhahn said they are still a few steps behind breaking ground.

Pluckhahn said Plasma Power LLC. still has to agree to the contract, something he can’t guarantee as the council added "quite a few conditions" to the contract.

If the contract is accepted by Plasma Power LLC. Pluckhahn said the next step would be to put together a finalized agreement and for Plasma Power LLC. to get enough investors to complete the facility.

If all goes according to plan, Pluckhahn said Plasma Power LLC. is hoping to finish the facility by the end of December.