DeKalb citizens suing over biomass gasification plant

A group of DeKalb County citizens have filed a lawsuit against the county over its recent approval of a $60 million biomass gasification plant in south DeKalb.

Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment, or CHASE, filed the suit in DeKalb Superior Court to appeal the county’s approval of a special land use permit to Green Energy Partners. The facility plans to turn wood chips into energy to sell to Georgia Power Co.

More than 100 residents objected to building the plant near Lithonia over fears of the emissions. Green Energy is waiting for a state air quality permit before beginning construction later this year.