Last week, Glenn Beck was very upset about reports that the biomedical waste that was being burned at an Oregon waste-to-energy facility included the remains of aborted fetuses, comparing it on his radio show to the science fiction film “Soylent Green” while screaming “electricity is people, your electricity is people!”
It was, for Beck, simply further proof that America is in a moral nosedive and will soon become “the most horrific nation on the face of the earth” as he grew somber and beseeched his listeners to “go off the grid” if this is how our nation’s energy is being produced.
“Do not be a part of that. Is there anything more evil than that?”
Now, a week later, the facility at the center of the controversy is speaking out and asserting that the report was “completely false”:
A waste-to-energy garbage burning operation in the tiny unincorporated community of Brooks made global news last week, after allegations surfaced that the plant was processing aborted fetuses from Canada — despite express denials by the facility’s operator … The allegation that aborted babies were being burned for electricity sparked a frenzy of media attention, being picked up by hundreds of outlets across the country and the world.
But as it turned out, the accusation was completely erroneous, according to Jill Stueck, vice president of marketing and communications for Covanta Energy Corporation, the company that owns and operates the plant in Brooks.
“It’s not just inaccurate; it’s completely false,” she said.
Stueck said “fetal tissue” refers to other biological material associated with birth, such as umbilical cords and placentas — not fetuses. Fetuses would be classified as “human remains” and are in a different category.
“This is a mixing-together of terms that mean completely different things,” she said. “We’re not burning babies.”
Stueck said she was as shocked as anyone when she saw the news last week.
“It’s a horrifying, horrible concept,” she said. “I was like, ‘If this is true, I’m alarmed. This is my company, and this is not something I would support.’”
Will Beck, who prides himself on always owning up to his mistakes (despite the fact that he actually hardly ever does so) correct the record?
We won’t be holding our breath.
