Published: November 11, 2009 02:01 pm      

Letters to the Editor

EKPC responds to alligations of polluting through ash ponds

The Oct. 28 article, "Area Artists Put River, Resources in Perspective," reported that a group of artists recently viewed an ash pond at East Kentucky Power Cooperative's (EKPC) Dale Station on the Kentucky River at Ford in southern Clark County.

The article included the statement that the pond is "similar to one which broke loose at a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power plant near Kingston, Tenn., and polluted a large swath of the Tennessee River."

A review of the facts regarding the ash ponds at EKPC's and TVA's facilities reveals major differences.

Each of the two ponds at EKPC's Dale Station has a surface area of about 10 acres, with a capacity of 180,000 cubic yards. The pond that failed at TVA's plant was 84 acres and contained about 9.4 million cubic yards of material.

EKPC does not pile ash above the dam walls of its ponds. Ash at TVA's Kingston plant apparently was piled 50 to 60 feet above the dam walls.

The two ponds at EKPC's Dale Station are used for short-term storage of ash. Typically, the ash is removed from each pond every two to three years. This occurs on an alternating basis, so one pond is being cleaned out while the other is receiving ash. The ash is transported off-site to an approved ash landfill or a beneficial reuse project site for dry storage.

TVA apparently was using the pond at the Kingston, Tenn., plant for long-term wet storage of coal ash. In fact, the ash in the pond that failed apparently had been piling up for many years, according to media reports.

Since the Kingston incident last December, EKPC has had the dam walls of its ash ponds inspected by independent consultants to ensure their integrity and the continued safety of the Kentucky River and our neighbors.

Nick Comer

East Kentucky Power Cooperative





Reader: Tell the PSC and EKPC ‘no’ to new coal-fired plant

Do we really need another coal fired power plant like the 280MW plant proposed by East Kentucky Power Cooperative in Clark County, known as Smith I?

Let’s look at the facts. First the Public Service Commission approved the plant in 2006 when the utility claimed additional power was needed to serve new customers from Warren County, but they later pulled out.

After the deal fell through, the PSC again approved the plant despite uncertainty that the plant was needed and to avoid penalties, citing if excess generation capacity were developed that off-system sales should be explored. Selling excess energy to other utilities has become burdensome because of changes in regional energy polices and markets. Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and Virginia all have recently passed state energy polices that push utilities to generate an increasing share of electricity from renewable resources. Many utilities are acquiring more natural gas power which is cheaper and supplementing that with green energy strategies.

With new environmental rules proposed by the federal government on disposal of coal waste, mercury and greenhouse emissions, building the Smith poses an unreasonable risk to ratepayers. EKPC’s costs to ratepayers has increased by 70 percent from 2002 to 2008 according to its own annual report. Building Smith will add nearly $1 billion more in unnecessary long-term debt to ratepayers.

EKPC can meet its load projections by turning to cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies. Tell the PSC and EKPC “no” to Smith I.

Mike Hannon

Paint Lick





Random act of kindness reminds group there are still good people

There are still good people in the world. I took my class to Frisch’s on Friday, Nov. 6, for breakfast. We sat down in the back of the restaurant and each child ordered their own meals. They were so excited.

We had 5 adults, including the teacher, para-educators, speech therapist, and the bus driver. The children really enjoy our outings and we were all busy enjoying our special breakfasts.

The waitress came over several times to make sure everyone was happy with their meals and asked if they needed anything.

She then came over and said that a woman had just gone up and paid for all of our food. We were so surprised and asked who it was, so we could thank her for such a generous gesture, but the woman had already left.

We were all so touched by such a wonderful, unselfish gesture but disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to say “thank you.”

We would like to take this opportunity to give a big “thank you” to this very kind woman. It has renewed our faith in humanity and shows that there are angels among us.

Pam Davenport

Daniel Boone Elementary School