A major environmental and economic concern for Alabama currently hangs in the balance as federal regulators deliberate over a consequential decision affecting the state's management of coal ash, a byproduct of coal-fired power generation. With over 100 million tons of this material in question, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is poised to determine whether Alabama must relocate its coal ash from unlined ponds to lined landfills, an undertaking with profound environmental and financial implications.

The dilemma pivots on two pivotal concerns: environmental protection and economic feasibility. The potential contamination of groundwater by arsenic, lead, and mercury from coal ash is a significant environmental threat. These heavy metals, if leached into the water supply, pose a substantial risk to both ecosystems and human health. This risk was highlighted under the 2015 coal ash rules instituted during the Obama administration, which mandated that coal ash must not pollute groundwater and, if it does, utilities are required to excavate the ash ponds. 

However, the estimated costs for such an operation are staggering. Alabama Power has previously projected a price tag of $3.3 billion for merely covering the ash in place, a method that falls short of excavation. Moreover, these figures do not account for the additional costs associated with the ponds managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority and PowerSouth, nor do they reflect any potential increase in expenses over the past three years.

The EPA's recent inclination to reject Alabama's state coal ash permitting program suggests a preference for more stringent measures than merely capping the ash in place. If the EPA rules in favor of excavation, the financial repercussions for Alabama could be monumental, potentially surpassing the earlier estimates. In other states, costs have varied widely, with some utilities' initial estimates proving to be inflated when actual bids were solicited. 

The debate extends beyond the numbers. Alabama Power advocates for the cover-in-place option, emphasizing the thorough evaluation by experts and the assertion that their plans are safe, compliant with regulations, and protective of human health and the environment. Yet, environmental advocates and other experts counter this position, pointing to examples from other states where coal ash has been successfully and cost-effectively moved to lined landfills.

A pivotal aspect of this controversy is the question of where the excavated coal ash would go. There are logistical challenges in relocating such a massive quantity of waste, including the scarcity of available landfill space and the lengthy timescales required for removal. Nevertheless, alternatives exist, such as creating landfills on-site, a solution employed by utilities in other states to circumvent the need for extensive transportation of coal ash.

As the EPA deliberates, Alabama finds itself at a crossroads. The decision ahead will not only influence the state's environmental landscape but also its economic future. With the public, utilities, and environmental groups in a state of anticipation, the verdict will set a precedent for the state's commitment to environmental stewardship and its capacity to shoulder the financial burden that accompanies it. The outcome of this decision is not merely about choosing between two closure methods; it's a statement about the values Alabama holds and the legacy it wishes to leave for future generations.

See more at AL.com.