It’s Getting Hot In Here

By Lauren McGrath

On Dec 22^nd, TVA’s coal ash spill – believed to be the largest industrial spill in our nation’s history – released over a billion gallons of coal sludge into the surrounding communities in Eastern TN. Today, around 10am Central Time, TVA reported a second spill—albeit more contained—at their Window’s Creek coal burning plant in Northeastern Alabama.

The announcement of the second spill arrives one day after the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee held an oversight hearing on TVA and the coal ash spill. In yesterday’s hearing committee chair, Senator Boxer, opened:

“Let me describe what happened at 1 AM on Monday, December 22, 2008 near the Kingston TVA coal-fired power plant. An earthen wall failed on a 40-acre surface impoundment holding coal ash. More than one billion gallons of waste rushed down the valley like a wave, covering more than 300 acres. The volume of ash and water was nearly 100 times greater than the amount of oil spilled in the Exxon Valdez disaster….At the spill site, the US EPA has found river water with arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium and lead above drinking water standards.”

The chair followed her opening remarks, noting that she would press for more stringent compliance, and that it was critically important that protective standards for coal-ash waste be created.

Senator Alexander of Tennessee – where the major coal spill occurred – said that while he’d like to see the state and TVA do more, he would like to see TVA turn this tragedy into a technological success story by finding innovate ways to use or sell coal ash waste in the future.

When the hearing addressed the reasoning on why this happened and how it could be prevented in the future, the option to move away from coal was not delivered as a primary solution. Sen. Boxer—although very vocal on the potential health impacts—articulated her desire to figure out how to remedy this problem so that the U.S. can continue using coal as a cheap, safe and clean energy source. The ranking minority member on the committee, Sen. Inhofe, conveyed his concerns that environmental extremists would use this tragedy to make coal less popular.

Among solutions addressed were: using more dry coal ash storage facilities, being more active in the reselling of coal through utilizing the product in concrete for building and as road stabilizer, and increasing the standards and oversight as it relates to these ponds. Personally, I’d prefer that the concrete in my home be minus coal slurry waste…and I’m not so sure this is a clean solution, or, really a solution at all.

In a matter of just three weeks – TVA has managed to greet the 111th Congress with an early Christmas present – the nation’s largest industrial coal ash spill. In response, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held an oversight hearing to review the details of the spill and discuss how to prevent further coal-related tragedies. Today, one day after the committee hearings, TVA has had two additional coal ash spills -one in northeastern Alabama, and one into Ocoee River. In terms of kicking off the new year with a “clean start”, this does not bode well for the industry’s efforts (or competency) in swaying public opinion to favor “clean coal” as a safe, green energy source. Perhaps the 111th Congress will begin to see it this way as well. With regard to Sen. Inhofe’s point (above), I agree—some environmentalists will use this tragedy to make coal less popular. However, I would go one step further – I hope that not only environmentalists – but also citizens across the nation – see these disasters – and commit to working tirelessly to end our nations reliance on coal.