Coal ash is the toxic byproduct of burning coal for electricity, which contains dangerous substances like arsenic, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium, among others. Coal ash is the second largest industrial waste stream in the U.S., with around 130 million tons produced annually. It is stored either by impoundment (wet storage) or landfill (dry storage).
In North Carolina, coal ash is primarily stored in large ponds near power plants, often located in low-income, rural communities. These communities, already burdened by environmental pollution, face even greater risks as coal ash seeps into groundwater, contaminates local drinking water, and spreads through the air as dust. With 14 coal-fired power plants across the state, coal ash presents a significant environmental justice issue that disproportionately affects marginalized communities.
Distribution of Confinements
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 900 coal ash lagoons pose disproportionate threats to low-income communities and communities of color in North Carolina and throughout the U.S.
Nearly 80,000 North Carolinians live within 2 miles of a coal ash dump. Children are more susceptible to coal ash health impacts like developmental disabilities and asthma. In the U.S., 1.5 million children live near coal ash dumps, almost 20,000 of whom are in North Carolina. People of color make up another 20,000 living near coal ash dumps. Across the U.S., 70% of all coal ash dumps are located in low-income communities with household incomes below the national average where citizens are already impacted by voting rights challenges and decreased access to education and health care.
Capping and "Clean-Up" Efforts Aren’t Enough! Current coal ash management efforts, like capping ponds or moving ash to lined landfills, don’t fully address the problem. These methods often still allow toxins to leak into water supplies, and dust from coal ash continues to threaten air quality. True remediation requires removing the ash from communities and fully containing it in secure, lined landfills that won’t continue to contaminate water or air.
Concentration of the Profits
For decades, energy corporations have prioritized profits over public health, cutting corners in coal ash management and clean-up. Instead of investing in safer, long-term solutions, utility companies have minimized their responsibility, leaving communities to deal with the lasting consequences. These corporate practices highlight the need for stronger regulations and corporate accountability.
Coal ash is also recycled and reused as an ingredient in concrete, running tracks, and wallboard; as filler for abandoned mines; as an agricultural soil addictive; and as winter treatment for snowy and icy roadways. Coal ash recycling remains concerning, especially with the use of unencapsulated coal ash. While costs to health and enjoyment of life are high, neither of these two methods produce any clear profit for impacted communities.
Ways Forward
Safer Disposal Practices
Increased Monitoring
Full Remediation
Justice for Affected Communities
Ensure that the communities most affected by coal ash pollution are prioritized in clean-up efforts and compensated for the environmental and health impacts they’ve endured.
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