Complied by Fetzers Strategic Partners

Our team met with Dr. Jeff Warren at the UNC Collaboratory last week to discuss coal ash. Duke Energy has filed legal proceedings to seek guidance on whether it must comply with the NC Coal Ash Management Act or with the subsequently enacted EPA CCR rule. This is in addition to Duke Energy seeking permission from the NC Utilities Commission to close all NC coal plants within the next decade.

Dr. Warren was on Senator Berger’s staff during the drafting and implementation of NC’s coal ash management act and is supportive of continued availability of ash to the concrete industry. Senator Berger will definitely rely on Dr. Warren and the Collaboratory for guidance in this area. This was a very good meeting to have to keep a “buoy in the water” for CRMCA.  We will continue to stay in touch with Dr. Warren.  Duke will likely lean into the most expensive solution to any problem and it is important we remain vigilant.

On a separate note, Dr. Warren has also authored a letter linked below about groundbreaking research the Collaboratory is undertaking regarding a biofuel. The  Collaboratory is seeking a temporary partnership for the test burning of the biofuel that could benefit our processes. He asked to see if any CRMCA members with coal-fired equipment might consider allowing a test-burn of this biofuel.