Duke Energy confirms its coal ash pits threaten groundwater across N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy has admitted in recent filings that most of its coal ash pits in North Carolina are close to or in contact with local groundwater.

In its filings, Duke admits that 24 of its 26 coal ash pits statewide threaten nearby groundwater. The two sites with no pollution noted—one lagoon in Asheville and one at the Cliffside facility—are sites where the coal ash has already been removed.

Coal ash is filled with some of some of the deadliest known toxic chemicals, including heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury and chromium. The toxics raise the risk for cancer, heart disease, and stroke, and can inflict permanent brain damage on children.

In response, Dave Rogers, the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal representative in the Carolinas released the following statement:

“While this news is shocking, it’s not surprising. Year after year, we’ve called on Duke Energy to remove its toxic coal ash from all of its unlined, leaking pits next to waterways, and to take the necessary steps to ensure that its landfills are secure and won’t continue to contaminate communities with everyday leaching into our groundwater.

“North Carolinians want and deserve a timely transition from dirty, toxic fossil fuels to clean energy. Right now, Duke plans to keep the state hooked on coal until 2048, which will only make this problem worse. Duke needs to retire all of its coal plants in the next 10 years and move the state toward clean energy like wind and solar.

“So as Duke develops its long-term energy plans, we’ll keep pushing for plans that rely on robust energy efficiency and clean, safe renewables and not on dirty, outdated fossil fuels like coal and fracked gas that poison our air and waterways.”