Green Options » fly ash

Residents Sue Over Coal Ash Dump Disguised as Golf Course

Alex Felsinger — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:52:02 +0000

Residents of Centerville, Virginia have sued Dominion Virginia Power to the tune of $1 billion for supplying 1.5 million tons of toxic fly ash to fill the hills of a nearby golf course.

The attorneys representing 400 Centerville residents claim that Dominion knew that the substance they supplied to the Battlefield Golf Club would eventually seep into the water supply. The suit also names the golf course’s developer and Dominion’s ‘coal-ash management consultant.’

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Wolves in Green Fleece: Are “Clean Coal” Ads a Scam?

Fred Etcheverry — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:00:27 +0000

Corporate image ads are scattered around political news. They’re often masked as green tech, but their pitch more often advances corporate self-interest. We might dismiss them as hype, but they often succeed in pulling the wool over the public’s eyes.

As the news reports a fly ash (burned coal) spill in Tennessee that may be the greatest environmental catastrophe, the coal industry continues to pitch “Clean Coal.” During the presidential campaigns, both Obama and McCain supported clean coal, as do most of the Democratic and Republican representatives.

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Water Contamination in Tennessee from Coal Ash Spill

Becky Striepe — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:10:59 +0000

The Tennessee Valley Authority and the EPA reported that levels of pollutants such as lead and arsenic were below safe levels for drinking water in areas affected by the Kingston coal ash spill. An environmental group’s tests had dramatically different results.

[Creative Commons photo by Andrew Ciscel]

Appalachian Voices teamed up with scientists at Appalachian State University to test water samples downstream from the spill. They found contaminant levels far above what is considered safe for drinking.

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Are You a Closet Coal-Burner?

Tina Casey — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:07:40 +0000

Oh, the irony! Mere days after a billion gallons of coal fly ash sludge floods rural Tennessee, The New York Times runs a story about the joys of heating with coal. But before we tsk-tsk people who invite coal into their lives, we should all take a look at the skeletons in our own fuel closets.

Find Your Coal Profile.

About half of the electricity generated in the United States comes from coal. Chances are that coal produces at least part of your home electricity. Or, it helps produce the goods and services you use.

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Tennessee Ash Spill 3X Larger Than Originally Thought

Becky Striepe — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:00:35 +0000

Authorities are now saying that the ash leak that devastated areas surrounding the Kingston coal-fired power plant in Tennessee is over three times the original estimated size. Rather than the 1.7 million cubic yards of wet coal ash, an aerial survey that the TVA conducted on Thursday revealed the flood was actually 5.4 million cubic yards. The spill in Tennessee is over 120 times the size of the Exxon Valdez.

[Emory River. Creative Commons photo by Chris]

Even before these updated numbers, it was the largest toxic spill in U.S. history. According to the New York Times, water in surrounding areas is showing lead and thallium contamination. These chemicals are linked to birth defects and nervous disorders.

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Raw Video Footage of TVA Kingston Power Plant Disaster Area

Timothy B. Hurst — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:18:02 +0000

Hat tip to United Mountain Defense:

This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

>>More coverage of Tennessee coal slurry disaster

Coal Slurry Disaster in Tennessee is Largest Ever
Clean Coal? Storage Failure Covers 12 Homes, 400 Acres with Toxic Ash
Tennessee Coal Slurry Retention Pond Disaster [video]

Toxic Ash Leak from Tennessee Coal-Fired Power Plant

Becky Striepe — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:41:06 +0000

A breach in an earthen dike caused toxic ash from the Kingston coal-fired power plant to devastate over 400 acres in Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Authority estimates that 3.1 million cubic yards of ash and water leaked from the holding pond. The sludge contaminated the surrounding area and is now moving down the Emory River.

[Creative Commons photo by Daniel Johnson]

Coal plants collect the “fly ash,” a byproduct of burning coal for fuel, in order to bury or recycle it later. The scrubbers collecting the ash are in place to reduce emissions so that plants can produce “clean coal.” Disasters like this certainly call into question how clean that process really is.

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Greener Concrete from Toxic Ash

Becky Striepe — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:00:39 +0000

[Image Credit: Mikko Itälahti on Flickr under a Creative Commons license]

Fly ash and bottom ash are byproducts from coal-fired power plants. Both are environmental hazards, and their disposal is toxic and costly. Small amounts of these materials can be reused in concrete production, but the rest ends up in landfills or storage lagoons. Georgia Tech assistant professor Mulalo Doyoyo is looking to solve that problem and create a greener, cement-free concrete alternative to boot!

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