Letters to the Editor

Viewpoints

November 11, 2009

Anonymous The Richmond Register Wed Nov 11, 2009, 02:02 PM EST

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

Text Only

Viewpoints

Republicans are making some noise
FRANKFORT — Last week’s news was mostly about Tuesday’s primary election but some Republicans who were not on the ballot also had interesting things to say.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Taking our Sunday night baths
There in the head of Blair Branch, when I was growing up in the 1950s and ‘60s, we always took our weekly baths, even during cold weather, every Sunday night, whether we needed one or not.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Obama pursues higher tax rates
In the run-up to this weekend’s G-8 summit at Camp David, journalists have unfavorably compared European “austerity” with Barack Obama’s economic policies.
European spending cuts, the argument goes, have hurt people and are arousing political opposition, while Obama’s proposals to keep federal spending at 24 percent of gross domestic product indefinitely are likely to succeed.

May 21, 2012 1 Photo
Graduation day
It’s that time of year. What’s the old song? “I can still remember...” And I do. It’s what I talk about when I’m invited to be a graduation speaker and what I write about every year at this time.
It’s about all those painful memories.

May 18, 2012 1 Photo
Recent news could cause panic for Obama campaign
Is it panic time at Obama headquarters in Chicago? You might get that impression from watching events – and the polls – over the past few weeks.

May 17, 2012 1 Photo
EPA goes medieval on Kentucky coal
EPA goes medieval on KRoman legions? Horrific crucifixions? Sacking dissenters and making examples out of their deaths?
These may sound like some of the gruesome tactics used by military commanders of the ancient world, but according to Al Armendariz, who, until recently, was regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, it’s much more relevant to modern America than we’d care to believe.

May 13, 2012 1 Photo
Don’t just pick out a card
When Anna Jarvis launched the movement for a Mother’s Day observance in 1908, her intention was to have everyone write their mother a letter, putting some thought and sincerity into thanking and telling her what she had meant to them.
Unsurprisingly, the idea caught on quickly and became very popular. But, Jarvis was disappointed with the outcome.

May 12, 2012 1 Photo
Returning to a calmer situation
FRANKFORT – After a two-month absence, I’ve returned to Frankfort where things seem calmer than when I left.

May 11, 2012 1 Photo
Saturday night with Bea
“They made me feel so small.”
Bea does my nails. I found her because she works seven days a week until 8 at night.
She sits at the front table, which in the world of Vietnamese nail salons means the money is in her drawer, and she’s the one who makes sure everyone gets their fair share of business.

May 10, 2012 1 Photo
Why are we in the dumps, again?
The many positive comments readers and friends have given my weekly column have motivated me to keep writing it.

May 5, 2012 1 Photo
More Viewpoints Headlines

Viewpoints

Search Results

Letters to the Editor

A recent health ranking listed Madison County as the 20th healthiest county in the state. It measured factors such as exercise, access to health care and smoking. Do you smoke cigarettes?

Site Map