It's another roadblock on SOBE Thermal Energy Solutions' attempt to move into Downtown Youngstown. 

Youngstown council voted to extend the pyrolysis moratorium first passed last year. The vote resulted in applause from audience members, as the city does what it can to stop the company's plans. 

"There's no other country that has a process like this," explained Youngstown Councilwoman Anita Davis. "It's so brand new. It's experimental. I just don't like Youngstown being used as the guinea pig."

According to the Ohio EPA, SOBE wants to install a Thermolyzer (pyrolysis) unit to process tire chips. The unit will produce a synthetic gas that would serve as a supplemental fuel in two existing natural gas-fired boilers that are already installed, operating, and permitted. Before Wednesday's vote, a handful of audience members encouraged council to keep the moratorium in place. 

"I would like to see a forum with SOBE where a panel of carefully vetted scientists and experts in the field could ask questions, clarifying this process and determining if hazardous air pollutants and hazardous waste are released," explained Mary Krupa of Youngstown, "what the possibilities of fire and explosion are."

"Our findings show the pyrolysis process is extremely dangerous and has very real potential to harm Youngstown's residents and pollute this community," explained Ellie Buerk, Certified Legal Intern with Kramer's Environmental Law Clinic at Case Western Reserve University, representing SOBE Concerned Citizens.

Council passing the extension as a way to further research the environmental impacts of pyrolysis, but also hopes it's an added setback that deters SOBE indefinitely.

"Everytime you say, What is the process, it's always hidden behind proprietary law," explained Doug Fowler of McDonald. "And that's true of a lot of these plants that they've tried. With 11 across the United States, there's only 9 now. None of them have been really shown to make a profit."

"I'm just looking forward to getting more and more information and for people to understand that we are firm in our commitment to oppose this," Davis said. 

SOBE CEO David Ferro was not present at the meeting. 21 News reached out to him for comment and did not get a response on Wednesday.

Wednesday's council meeting began with Youngstown Business Incubator CEO Barb Ewing requesting $1.35 million dollars from city council. Funds would be used to establish The Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense Using Advanced Technologies. The concept would be created in the former Vindicator building, located at 107 Vindicator Square.

The space will allow for up to 5 startups, with a space available for Ursa Major, to continue work in the downtown district. 

The council applauded Ewing's work at Youngstown YBI and plan to vote on the requested dollars at the next council meeting