Duke Energy To Keep Dry Coal Ash In Place At 10 Power Plants

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Duke Energy plans to cap unlined and potentially leaking coal ash pits at 10 generating plants in Indiana and North Carolina, while excavating its sites in Kentucky and South Carolina.

The country's largest electricity company outlined its plans Friday ahead of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deadline next week for utilities to declare plans for storing decades of waste left after burning coal for power.

Duke Energy projects drying out and covering three dozen coal ash pits. Ash would stay in existing pits at plants in Belmont, Belews Creek, Terrell, Roxboro, Mooresboro and Semora, North Carolina. The company also would cap storage basins in Cayuga, New Albany, Owensville and Terre Haute, Indiana.

Sixteen other pits already are being closed under conditions of North Carolina law or lawsuit settlements.

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