Hold Duke Energy responsible for the environmental impact of coal ash ponds in North Carolina.
The Issue
Coal ash ponds are an outdated and ineffective method for storing coal burning byproducts, resulting in tons of toxic coal ash being released into the state's waterways. Duke Energy, the owner of the 14 sites throughout the state, must be held responsible.
North Carolina has plans to remove or clean up coal ash ponds from all 14 storage sites by 2029. However, only clean up of four of these sites is guaranteed, with the other 10 being left up to the Coal Ash Commission established in the Coal Ash Management act, a bill that passed without Governor McCrory's signature.
Nearly two dozen of the ponds distributed through the 14 storage sites throughout the state are located directly above buried streams or waterways. Duke Energy admits that in the case of accidental releases (like the spill in the Dan River that released more than 50 tons of coal ash into the river) harmful elements such as manganese, selenium, boron, chromium, lead, and arsenic can be released into the state's water supply.
Many of the coal ash storage sites not considered 'high-risk,' and therefore not considered for cleanup before 2019, do not have caps or groundwater monitoring systems currently in place, and so could continue to pollute the water and the local environment until their undetermined clean up appointment.
Legislation stronger than that of the Coal Ash Management act needs to be drafted or stricter penalties (like the recent $25.1 million fine imposed by the NC DENR on Duke for spills at the L.V. Sutton station) need to be enforced in order to ensure that Duke, and not the residents and taxpayers, is held responsible for its impact on the state.
Clean water and a clean environment is a right to which everyone should be entitled, and Duke Energy should be held responsible for all the damage it has caused, and will continue to cause, to the state's environment.
This petition does not accuse elected or appointed officials of any action or inaction, but serves as a call to action in the public interest, without regard to political affiliation. This petition will remain open until May 7th.
Photo provided by Waterkeeper Alliance Inc.
The Issue
Coal ash ponds are an outdated and ineffective method for storing coal burning byproducts, resulting in tons of toxic coal ash being released into the state's waterways. Duke Energy, the owner of the 14 sites throughout the state, must be held responsible.
North Carolina has plans to remove or clean up coal ash ponds from all 14 storage sites by 2029. However, only clean up of four of these sites is guaranteed, with the other 10 being left up to the Coal Ash Commission established in the Coal Ash Management act, a bill that passed without Governor McCrory's signature.
Nearly two dozen of the ponds distributed through the 14 storage sites throughout the state are located directly above buried streams or waterways. Duke Energy admits that in the case of accidental releases (like the spill in the Dan River that released more than 50 tons of coal ash into the river) harmful elements such as manganese, selenium, boron, chromium, lead, and arsenic can be released into the state's water supply.
Many of the coal ash storage sites not considered 'high-risk,' and therefore not considered for cleanup before 2019, do not have caps or groundwater monitoring systems currently in place, and so could continue to pollute the water and the local environment until their undetermined clean up appointment.
Legislation stronger than that of the Coal Ash Management act needs to be drafted or stricter penalties (like the recent $25.1 million fine imposed by the NC DENR on Duke for spills at the L.V. Sutton station) need to be enforced in order to ensure that Duke, and not the residents and taxpayers, is held responsible for its impact on the state.
Clean water and a clean environment is a right to which everyone should be entitled, and Duke Energy should be held responsible for all the damage it has caused, and will continue to cause, to the state's environment.
This petition does not accuse elected or appointed officials of any action or inaction, but serves as a call to action in the public interest, without regard to political affiliation. This petition will remain open until May 7th.
Photo provided by Waterkeeper Alliance Inc.
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Petition created on March 31, 2015