DEQ Orders Duke Energy to Excavate Coal Ash at Six Remaining Sites

[TexasTowelie]

Apr 1, 2019

Today, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) ordered Duke Energy Progress, LLC to excavate all remaining coal ash impoundments in North Carolina. After conducting a rigorous scientific review of Duke Energy’s proposals for Allen, Belews, Cliffside/Rogers, Marshall, Mayo and Roxboro facilities, and conducting public listening sessions in impacted communities, DEQ has determined excavation of all six sites is the only closure option that meets the requirements of Coal Ash Management Act to best protect public health. The coal ash must be disposed of in a lined landfill.

“DEQ rigorously reviewed the proposals, and the science points us clearly to excavation as the only way to protect public health and the environment,” said DEQ Secretary Michael S. Regan. “Today’s action sends another clear message that protecting public health and natural resources is a top priority of the Cooper Administration.”

Duke Energy must submit final excavation closure plans to DEQ by August 1, 2019. In those plans, Duke must propose where excavated coal ash will reside and estimate how long that process will take. By law, DEQ must reject any plan that does not protect public health and the environment.

https://deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2019/04/01/deq-orders-duke-energy-excavate-coal-ash-six-remaining-sites


Duke hints at massive rate increases over excavation order

In its statement, Duke Energy said excavating the final nine pits would add about “$4 billion to $5 billion to the current estimate of $5.6 billion for the Carolinas.” The company warned that excavation at some sites could take decades, stretching well beyond current state and federal deadlines. It also said excavation would cost significantly more than it would to cap the coal ash under a heavy cover and soil.

Holleman said the company “greatly exaggerates” its cost estimates without taking into account the damage it has caused to the environment and to people’s health. He said the company also underestimates the cost it would incur if it simply drained and capped coal ash in the unlined pits.

Had a conversation (that turned into an argument) recently with a man trying to defend Duke Energy's history of coal ash storage. "Science has come a long way since then" was the major thrust of his argument, trying to give the utility an "out" for not using liners in their coal ash pits. Of course that's not true, because solid waste engineers have known since the late 1960's that toxins can leach into the groundwater from unlined landfills. And of course Duke Energy knew this too, but they were more concerned with returning healthy quarterly dividends than being good stewards of the environment. But hopefully they will soon find out that having us pay for their mistakes won't be as easy as it has been:

Read more: http://bluenc.com/content/coal-ash-wednesday-duke-hints-massive-rate-increases-over-excavation-order

[TexasTowelie]

1. NC House Democrats file bills to block Duke from passing coal ash costs to consumers

N.C. House Democrats have moved to block Duke Energy from billing customers for billions of dollars to clean up its coal ash ponds — a task that grew dramatically more expensive this week.

The state environment agency ordered Duke on Monday to dig up and remove ash at six power plants, including two on lakes Norman and Wylie. Excavation is much more expensive than Duke’s preferred option of leaving the ash in place and covering it.

Duke estimates that the order would add $4 billion to $5 billion to the $5.6 billion it had expected to spend to close its ash ponds in the Carolinas.

Who should pay those costs — Duke or its customers — has hung over ash disposal since it burst into public consciousness with a 2014 spill into North Carolina and Virginia’s Dan River.

Read more: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article228874829.html