February 23, 201511 yr The U.S. Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against Duke Energy for violating the federal Clean Water Act at coal ash sites across North Carolina. The company announced today it has reached a proposed plea agreement with federal prosecutors to resolve the charges. According to a Duke Energy press release, the plea agreement includes $68.2 million in fines and restitution and $34 million for community service and mitigation. The charges include multiple misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act in connection with last year’s coal ash spill in the Dan River as well as unauthorized discharges at other Duke coal plants in North Carolina. The agreement is subject to review and approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Criminal charges filed against against Duke Energy « Appalachian Voices
February 23, 201511 yr The U.S. Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against Duke Energy for violating the federal Clean Water Act at coal ash sites across North Carolina. The company announced today it has reached a proposed plea agreement with federal prosecutors to resolve the charges. According to a Duke Energy press release, the plea agreement includes $68.2 million in fines and restitution and $34 million for community service and mitigation. The charges include multiple misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act in connection with last year’s coal ash spill in the Dan River as well as unauthorized discharges at other Duke coal plants in North Carolina. The agreement is subject to review and approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Criminal charges filed against against Duke Energy « Appalachian Voices That's great...Duke pays a huge fine and our heating bill will now go up.
February 23, 201511 yr That's great...Duke pays a huge fine and our heating bill will now go up. You can thank the lack of tort reform for this. I don't disagree that something needed to be done at some of these sites. Coal ash is a huge waste byproduct from the consumption of coal, coal is still the cleanest and most efficient form of viable power available to us in the United States...so hand in hand. Part of the ongoing issue is the multitude of state lawsuits being brought by individuals, many of whom have lived and earned a living from Duke Energy for years. There are some ways to mitigate these risks but ultimately they are very expensive due to the rules and regulations put in place by the EPA. Until we have substantially reduced the grid reliability by the reduction of base load power, and in turn that begins to affect the consumer, we will continue to see these "wins" against power generation companies. Good luck running your iPad by hamster power...
February 23, 201511 yr BB, I guess you mean the lack of tort reform keeps cases like this from being handled properly in civil court so they go the criminal option and charge a company or whatever they are doing?
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