BELMONT, NC — Duke Energy has issued a response following a recent study that disputed their models regarding water flow.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and Catawba Riverkeeper say they recently hired an expert to analyze the models given by Duke Energy regarding possible coal ash contamination in area ground water due to water flow. The results ultimately contradicted the information given by Duke Energy.
Duke Energy Spokesperson, Paige Sheehan issued the following statement regarding the results:
“This is another unfortunate example of SELC and its client organizations willfully misrepresenting information in an effort to scare the community and close ash basins in the most extreme, most disruptive way. It’s long past time for the media and the public to question this organization’s credibility.
The figure referenced in SELC’s news release is a draft model using very conservative assumptions that do not reflect more real-world conditions.
Modeling is a helpful tool that must be confirmed by data. We know from the state’s actual well testing data that these neighbors’ wells do not have elevated boron and are not being impacted by ash basins. Growing evidence demonstrates the substances in neighbors’ wells are naturally occurring, including state background testing, a recent study by Duke University and U.S. Geologic Survey data.
The ash basins at Allen have operated safely and will be closed safely in ways that protect people and the environment and in accordance with state and federal laws.”
