Texas Found to Lead Nation in Coal Ash Spills
After just discussing about the recent Maryland coal ash spill, a new study was just released by an environmental group found that Texas to be the leading state of coal waste production. Texas ranked first with 13.5 million tons of coal ash produced this past year along with close to 9,000 dangerous metals generated as well. Texas is also adding as many as 8 new plants that could add millions of more tons of coal ash in 2009. What’s even worse is that Texas does not consider coal ash a toxic material and no permit is required to dispose of it onsite. It must be disposed of without harm to humans or the environment if disposed of elsewhere, but allowing companies to store it onsite will only let spills continue to happen. This is a disturbing trend considering that Texas also leads the nation as one of the top wind energy producers. It’s a shame that so many new plants are being constructed considering just how prosperous wind energy could be in Texas.
It seems that the EPA also moving to better control coal ash waste more at a national level. Up to this point, there has never been any regulation on power plants at the national level and it seems as if the EPA wants to change this. They would also like to examine the effects of that coal ash waste may be having on our water quality. It’s encouraging that the new administration is making a change and hopefully will not let power companies continue to pollute our environment.
Comments
Under the last administration Pres. Bush stole our governer to head the EPA, and he has done well since he has been in there. But this is an issue that needs our attention. My question is where is TX getting all of this stuff from?