N.C. Senate gives final OK to ash billJun 25 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Bruce Henderson The Charlotte Observer
The N.C. Senate gave final, bipartisan approval Wednesday to a 15-year plan to close Duke Energy's coal ash ponds in the state, sending the measure to the House. The unanimous vote included several changes to the bill, including more explicit standards for closing Duke's 33 ponds in response to environmental advocates' complaints. Other amendments clarified when groundwater violations occur and options for fixing illegal discharges from ponds. Senate leader Phil Berger called the measure a substantial improvement of state policy on ash and "an example of how good quality (legislation) can result from difficult circumstances." Berger referred to theash spill in his hometown, Eden, that focused legislators' attention on ash in this year's short session. Sen. Josh Stein, a Raleigh Democrat who proposed several amendments, said he regretted that the bill places the costs of closing Duke's ponds "on the backs of ratepayers." The legislation holds company shareholders accountable only for the costs of cleaning up spills. But Stein thanked Berger and rules committee chair Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, who guided it through the Senate, for a "very serious and substantive bill. I think this is a step in the right direction for North Carolina and certainly an improvement over state law." The House version of the bill is in the environment committee, which meets Thursday morning. If it clears that committee, the bill would move to the public utilities committee. http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=32908392& |