Duke to host open house on coal ash four days after federal plea and sentencing

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Duke Energy says it “wants to connect with neighbors about coal ash.” So the company will host a community open house to discuss with the public its plans to deal with coal ash stored at the Sutton Plant off of US 421 north of Wilmington.

The open house is scheduled for Monday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Coastline Center in downtown Wilmington. Duke says it will feature information stations on the company’s plan to demolish the Sutton Steam Plant, excavate coal ash and protect groundwater and the environment around the plant. The event is a drop-in for area residents to learn more from company experts. There will be no formal presentation.

The event will come four days after a plea and sentencing for Duke subsidiaries scheduled for tomorrow in federal court in Greenville. The companies were charged with multiple criminal violations of the Clean Water Act. Duke Energy Business Services, LLC, Duke Energy Progress, Inc., and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, charged with multiple criminal violations of the Clean Water Act.

In November, Duke Energy submitted plans to the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources to fully excavate ash in basins at the Sutton Plant and take it to a lined landfill or lined structural fill for long-term storage. This work is expected to be completed by August 2019.

Duke Energy plans to move approximately one-third of the coal ash at the Sutton Plant, primarily by rail, to a lined structural fill project in Chatham County. The company hopes to get approval for the necessary permits to allow that work to begin by this fall.

In late April, Duke announced plans to build a fully lined landfill on the Sutton Plant property to permanently store the remaining coal ash at the plant. The design for the landfill is currently under review by regulators, and construction is expected to begin in early 2016. That plan has been criticized by environmental groups, who want the coal ash moved away from bodies of water.

In March, state regulators fined Duke Energy a record $25.1 million for groundwater contamination from coal ash at the Sutton Plant. The power company quickly announced plans to appeal the fine.