The Front Porch Blog, with Updates from AppalachiaThe Front Porch Blog, with Updates from Appalachia

N.C. coal plant neighbors ask: “At what cost?”

Tuesday, April 29th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

AWCblogNear the beginning of our new video, Stokes County, N.C., resident Annie Brown says, “I love to turn the switch on and have my lights just like anyone else, but at what cost?” It’s a question we should all ask of ourselves. But we also must direct our elected officials and electric providers to consider the question: at what cost do our outdated energy policies and practices come? [ Read More ]


Surprised? McCrory’s Coal Ash Proposal Falls Short

Saturday, April 19th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | 1 Comment

coal1North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory's poorly planned coal ash proposal is catching flak from environmental groups and legislators in his own party who already planned to push for reform during the upcoming legislative session. [ Read More ]


North Carolina sides with Duke Energy by appealing coal ash ruling

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014 | Posted by Sarah Kellogg | 4 Comments

Buck Steam StationDuke Energy recently appealed a ruling that gave North Carolina authority to force the company to immediately clean up its coal ash pollution across the state. But why would the N.C. Environmental Management Commission join Duke and also appeal the decision? The answer likely has to do with who sits on the commission and how they were appointed. [ Read More ]


Duke Energy Appeals Court Order to End Coal Ash Groundwater Pollution

Friday, April 4th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

9068479979_3023eb4546_zDuke Energy has appealed the March 6 ruling by a Wake County judge that it must take immediate action to end groundwater pollution from its coal ash ponds at its coal-fired power plants in North Carolina. The company also asked the N.C. Court of Appeals to stay the order until an appeal can be heard to avoid losing "years of planning" to improve how it handles coal ash. [ Read More ]


Another Week of Coal Ash Coverage in North Carolina

Friday, March 28th, 2014 | Posted by Sarah Kellogg | 1 Comment

12310805543_fdedeeee35_bSince the Dan River coal ash spill drew national attention to the threats coal ash poses to waterways, North Carolinians have come together to tell state regulators and elected officials that the risks associated with Duke Energy’s mismanaged and outdated coal ash ponds are unacceptable. Here is a round up of the ongoing news coverage of North Carolina's coal ash problem in the wake of the spill. [ Read More ]


Fouling Our Nest: Coal Ash Roundup and Next Steps

Tuesday, March 18th, 2014 | Posted by Kara Dodson | No Comments

watertestingWe’ve watched national interest in North Carolina’s coal ash mess grow over the past month and a half, and it’s been a wild ride. The Dan River spill on Feb. 2 sparked a wave of support for closing the 33 ash ponds owned by Duke Energy polluting North Carolina’s surface and ground waters. Here are the most recent developments. [ Read More ]


Emails indicate coordination between Duke Energy and DENR on coal ash lawsuits

Thursday, March 13th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

800px-Dan_River_Steam_StationThe Associated Press reported today that emails between N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources officials, the N.C. Department of Justice and lawyer for Duke Energy indicate how DENR coordinated closely with Duke after it blocked citizens groups from suing the company over coal ash pollution. [ Read More ]


Aftermath of NC Coal Ash Spill Still Unfolding

Friday, March 7th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

12310805543_fdedeeee35_b Regardless of the political environment in North Carolina, the Dan River spill was a major event and a reminder of the dangers of coal ash and the consequences of poor enforcement. But with the anti-regulatory renown of North Carolina’s lawmakers and state agencies, it has understandably created a firestorm in Raleigh and around the state of people demanding action that many believe is long overdue. [ Read More ]


Poll: North Carolinians Favor Swift Action on Coal Ash

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

12797608253_6d0b5b1c32_zThe vast majority of North Carolinians believe Duke Energy should be forced to pay for the cleanup of the Dan River coal ash spill and that state lawmakers should act now to prevent future spills, according to a new poll commissioned by the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. [ Read More ]


Second Ruptured Pipe Spills Arsenic into Dan River

Friday, February 21st, 2014 | Posted by Sarah Kellogg | 1 Comment

12311117414_2a44f4aff4_b Contaminated water continued to flow into the Dan River from Duke Energy’s coal ash pond in Eden, N.C., this week. On Tuesday, state officials reported that a second pipe running beneath the coal ash pond is leaking water containing arsenic at levels 14 times higher than human health standards. Officials do not know how long the pipe has been leaking, but video footage from inside the pipe shows stains around the leaky seams, indicating that the leak is not new. [ Read More ]


Feds Conduct Criminal Investigation of N.C. Agency Following Dan River Spill

Thursday, February 13th, 2014 | Posted by Sarah Kellogg | No Comments

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources is the target of a federal criminal investigation following Duke Energy’s coal ash spill into the Dan River on February 2. The U.S. Attorney's office issued a grand jury subpoena requesting records from DENR related to coal ash discharges from the Dan River Power Plant including emails, memos and reports from 2010 to the present. Duke Energy confirmed to WRAL that it also received a subpoena, but the company is not required to disclose the contents of the subpoena. [ Read More ]


Dan River Update: Citizens Warned To Avoid Water Contaminated by Coal Ash Spill

Thursday, February 13th, 2014 | Posted by Sarah Kellogg | No Comments

12311202286_d357ebf5ef_b The N.C. Department of Health issued an advisory on Wednesday, warning citizens not to touch the Dan River, which was contaminated with coal ash 10 days ago after a storm water pipe broke at Duke Energy’s retired plant in Eden, N.C. The Department of Health also advised residents not to eat fish or mussels from the river. Duke still has not come out with a cleanup plan for the spill, which has left parts of the Dan River unsafe for recreational use, including swimming and fishing. [ Read More ]



 

 


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