Utilities across the Southeast are collectively moving nearly 250 million tons of coal ash to upland, lined landfills or recycling it into concrete to protect citizens in their states.
Virginia
In Virginia, recent bipartisan legislation requires Dominion Energy to remove all of its coal ash—27 million tons—from sites throughout the state.
On March 6, 2020, the Virginia house and senate passed legislation requiring removal of another 7 million tons of coal ash by a separate utility. The legislation passed the Virginia legislature by a cumulative vote of 135 – 2.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, more than 13 million tons of coal ash have been removed to dry, lined landfills away from water, and the state environmental agency in 2019 ordered its largest electric utility, Duke Energy, to remove the remaining coal ash from every unlined pit statewide. Duke Energy has agreed to excavate and remove 126 millions tons from all of its 14 sites.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, every utility is removing the coal ash from every unlined waterfront pit, and groundwater contamination has dropped dramatically.
Santee Cooper reported that in 2019 they had the most successful year for recycling and beneficial reuse. They have so far excavated more than 17 million tons. Another South Carolina electric utility, SCE&G, is excavating or has excavated every one of their sites. Duke Energy is excavating over 133 million tons in SC and NC combined. That total include two South Carolina sites that total over 7 million tons of coal ash.
Georgia
Georgia Power, Alabama Power’s sister company, has voluntarily agreed to remove about 49 million tons of coal ash from 9 sites. No direct legal proceedings have been brought in Georgia, but a number of local community organizations and river groups have urged cleanup of these sites. Georgia Power itself has demonstrated excavation is appropriate and feasible, with plans to do so at all of its coastal sites and several other sites it initially planned to cap in place.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Valley Authority is removing 3 million tons of coal ash at its Allen site in Memphis, over 3 million tons, and at Gallatin near Nashville, about 12 million tons.