Duke Energy gives update on coal ash basin closures
Duke Energy provided an update Tuesday on its process of closing all of its remaining coal ash basins.
The company is currently working to close 56 basins at 21 plants. Further, by early 2019, the company will stop sending ash and wastewater to nearly all basins, well in advance of state and federal requirements. Instead, Duke Energy constructed dry bottom ash handling systems, lined water treatment basins and new lined retention basins at several operating coal plants.
About 22 million tons of ash have been excavated since basin closure began with more than 5 million tons moved in 2018 alone. Ash is already in the process of being excavated from basins in Asheville, N.C.; Rogers Energy Complex in Mooresboro, N.C.; W.S. Lee facility in Belton, S.C.; Cayuga Generating Station in Cayuga, Ind.; Gibson Generating Station in Owensville, Ind.; and Gallagher Generating Station in New Albany, Ind. Overall, more than 7 million work hours were logged in 2018 on basin closures.
Excavation will be completed at seven additional basins in 2019, including the Dan River facility in Eden, N.C.; Riverbend Steam Station in Mount Holly, N.C.; the Sutton Energy Complex in Wilmington, N.C.; and the East Bend Station in Boone Co., Ky.
An essential part of basin closure is to remove the free water from the basins. This process is underway and will help improve groundwater quality. Further, Duke Energy has begun work to determine additional corrective actions to improve groundwater. It will monitor groundwater for decades to ensure that the environment remains well protected.
