Fun fact! Did you know our address stop-sobe stands for
STOP Sacrificing Our Beautiful Environment?
​UPDATE: SOBE Thermal Energy, LLC is in receivership.
SOBE Concerned Citizens prevented the operator from expanding into tire pyrolysis in Youngstown, with zoning and a Moratorium Ordinance in effect.
The city of Youngstown has an ERAC appeal against the Ohio EPA which granted a 10 year air pollution permit PTIO, transferable to a new owner!
Coverage of how this happened:The Vindicator and The Business Journal of Youngstown, WFMJ, and our blog post
Important Developments
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Moratorium Ordinance RENEWED for third year by Youngstown City Council on November 19, 2025. Read Moratorium Ordinance signed by Youngstown's Mayor Jamael "Tito"Brown.
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The Environmental Health Project produced a report summarizing the Baseline Air Quality in Youngstown, Ohio. Read the Baseline Air Report
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Moratorium Ordinance RENEWED until November 20, 2025. Read PRESS COVERAGE.
Read MORATORIUM ORDINANCE SIGNED BY MAYOR OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.
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Ohio EPA (OH EPA) granted an Air Pollution permit to SOBE Thermal LLC because they sought to expand into pyrolysis of tires to produce synthetic gas in Youngstown. We are using Zoning enforcement and a Moratorium Ordinance against gasification and pyrolysis in our city to stop this. Read PRESS RELEASE RESPONDING TO FEBRUARY 14, 2024 OH EPA PERMIT.
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Federal EPA directs OH EPA to revise the proposed draft permit of SOBE pyrolysis plans in downtown Youngstown, Ohio - Read LETTER FROM US EPA TO OH EPA (PDF FILE)
NOTE: OH EPA issues "final permit" to SOBE February 14, 2024 which does not take US EPA recommendations on Environmental Justice into account: Read AIR POLLUTION PERMIT (PDF FILE)
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Read ENVIRONMENTAL LAW OPINION on prohibition of SOBE pyrolysis in our Youngstown Mixed Use Community zone.
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MANY PUBLIC COMMENTS were submitted to OH EPA urging denial of air permit:
- Read BUCKEYE ENVIRONMENTAL'S COMMENTS.
- Read SUSTAINABLE YOUNGSTOWN'S COMMENTS.
NEW! Join local Mahoning Valley residents to SIGN THE PETITION to revoke OEPA permit for SOBE: https://bit.ly/45gq14E
Tell Ohio EPA: Inspect SOBE Plant and Revoke Their Air Pollution Permit
Not a Mahoning Valley resident? Sign the nationwide petition:
Tell Ohio EPA: Revoke SOBE's Air Pollution Permit
https://c.org/2zNpf4RCch
Latest News
Watch public town hall
on pyrolysis moratorium
hosted by
SOBE Concerned Citizens featuring speakers from Ohio >
Watch a retired OH EPA incinerator inspector point out that no process test data has been submitted by SOBE as is required to operate >
WATCH WFMJ'S 101 WEST PROGRAM EXPOSING DANGER OF SOBE PYROLYSIS
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The ‘101 West’ team - part of WFMJ 21 News watchdog brand - spent months investigating and talking with experts, officials, and the owner of SOBE Thermal Energy Systems to learn more about the conversion technology process and residents' concerns.
Click Here if video does not load above:
https://youtu.be/R4pdG2H9uZE?si=oC_7UlLwxqjG8dBQ
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