GenOn's Closing: Readers Weigh In

When we posted an article on plans to close the Avon Lake power plant, readers immediately responded. The reaction has been overwhelmingly in support of the plant’s demise, even if it means a loss of almost $200,000 in income and property tax for the city and schools.

Plenty of readers have voices their opinions on Facebook and Avon Lake Patch’s main site.

 We asked Facebook readers, “What does one do with a building this size? “ and got a flood of responses, including some tongue-in-cheek ones:  

• I'm betting heavy equipment and explosives will take care of it.
• We can benefit from the additional view of the shoreline.
• They'll just block it with condos
• Turn it into a brewery.
• Hopefully the closing will offer Avon Lake and surrounding communities less pollution and a reduction of cancer...
• A Beach side restaurant or a few... would be GREAT ! A marina…
• Knock it down for lake access - park/beach!
• Knock it down, clean it up. There's probably enough room for all that's been mentioned -marina, restaurant/brewery, park, condos. I'd love to see some wind turbines:)

Here’s what readers had to say on Patch’s main site:

“If a major polluter in Ohio wants to leave our town I think that we should be happy about it. Time to consider more green energy options. Maybe now we'll be able to use the waterfront area for something that is less of an eyesore.”

“Wow, just think of the possibilities for a great Marina on that site next to Miller Road Park. If this is handled right, it could be a real boon to the city. I for one am excited over the possibilities.”

“If/when Genon closes this plant, we will not be sitting in the dark. We'll be breathing in less hydrochloric acid, arsenic, lead and mercury. I, too, hope the can think of creative ways to offset the lost tax revenues and do something with the lake front property.”

“Make the park bigger?”

“One the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the United States closing? Good riddance. I'll gladly pay a few additional dollars in taxes or electricity costs if it means a major polluter in our community shuts down. This is not the kind of economic development we need here.”

“Eventually the aging power plant will be gone and Avon Lake will lose the tax revenue. Local leaders should start planning now on what will replace it.”

“I know there will be environmental and health challenges to overcome but imagine parkland ... imagine property values rising ... even better, imagine less cancer in Avon Lake and surrounding communities!”