Change Your World Week Winter 2022 (Archived)

Have you ever looked down towards Saginaw Bay and seen all the white smoke getting put in the air? Or the massive mounds of coal by the river? Over the years people in the communities have had to deal with their loved ones getting diagnosed with types of cancer. Not just adults but teens that are in high school getting cases of cancer. There is one big factor behind all of the cases in Bay County. That is the Karn Weadock consumers plant and it pollutes coal ash into the air and water.

Karen Weadock was constructed in 1937 and started using coal to generate power in 1940. Burning coal produces coal ash which becomes lightweight dust. This plant is right at the mouth of the Saginaw River which flows into the Saginaw Bay. Wherever there are larger bodies of water it tends to be windier.  This means this wind picks up these ash particles and blows them right into Bay County and Citys surrounding the Saginaw Bay.

An article from Physicians for Social Responsibility says “Depending on where the coal was mined, coal ash typically contains heavy metals including arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and selenium, as well as aluminum, antimony, barium, beryllium, boron, chlorine, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, thallium, vanadium, and zinc. If eaten, drunk, or inhaled, these toxicants can cause cancer and nervous system impacts such as cognitive deficits, developmental delays, and behavioral problems.” (Coal ash: Hazardous to human health - PSR) 

Even if they make things to filter this ash they can't possibly stop it all from spreading throughout the surrounding areas leading to people ingesting some of it.

Around 2010 there was a big coal ash spill that came out of Karen Weadock. The first sentence from a Mlive article says “Consumers Energy plans to fix the second of two leaky coal ash landfills at its power plant in Bay County by the end of the year.”(Kart) Those ash landfills are cuts of land directly off the Saginaw Bay so all of those toxins are going directly into the water and air. Those leaks were reported to go on for years because Consumers never fixed them. It came to the point where they put in a wall to stop the leak from going into the bay. The Michigan radio had an article that said,“‘Our review of 2018 and 2019 monitoring data shows that of the 15 coal ash disposal sites with publicly available heavy metal groundwater monitoring data, 80 percent of those had levels of toxic chemicals in the groundwater exceeding state and federal protective standards,” said Abby Wallace, co-author of the report and a policy specialist with MEC.’” (Graham) Karen Wedock was part of that 80% which was proven with many groundwater tests coming back with high levels of toxins in the ground. Groundwater gets pumped through private wells where farmers and people use that water on a daily basis. So those toxins were at one point consumed. After these spills, there were organizations that came out and inspected the Consumers plant. Jeff Kart wrote an M live article that stated, “The company's Karn-Weadock plant in Hampton Township is named on a national list of toxic coal ash sites recently released by Earthjustice, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit.” (Kart) This plant had so many leaks and dangerous conditions that it got put on a toxic coal ash site list. It shows how dangerous this is and what it is doing to the community.  

Overall, Bay County is a pretty small area that has approximately 103,856 citizens. According to the State Cancer Profiles by the CDC says that Bay County has an average annual count of 699 cases of cancer. The Karen wedlock plant is responsible for the high amount of cases Bay County has. Since 1940 citizens of Bay County have been exposed to carcinogens in the air and water. Even though Karen Wedock has demolished one of their big coal plants there are still two coal units in production. That means to this day we are still being potentially being exposed to these toxins. 

The biggest alternative perspective is the Consumers Energy's perspective. This is the company responsible for the leak, and they risk losing money caused from old and future leaks. The company first had to pay $44 million to switch from using water to using air to move the ash to the landfill. They did this to stop the problems, it obviously didn't work. In 2016, the company had to pay another $454 million to fund the demolition of the plant (Knake). For a company whose main goal is to make money, having to pay money not only for settlement but for the families affected. "We’re creating a more sustainable Michigan for generations to come, by going coal-free and shifting to 90% clean energy resources. We’re using more renewable energy, implementing energy-savings programs, and saving our customers $650 million over the next 20 years."(Consumers Energy) Technology and research has grown in science since the time that the Karn Weadock plant started. We are seeing a massive rise in the use of renewable energy being used to generate electricity. Consumers Energy has slowly started to move away from using coal to generate power. We see a good example of Consumers using renewable resources to create energy in Akron Michigan and its surrounding cities. If you take a drive out there you will see hundreds of wind turbines producing energy.  Consumers provide to most of Michigan. "We provide electric service to 1.8 million customers and natural gas service to 1.7 million customers in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. All told, we serve more than 6 million Michiganders."(Consumers Energy) So the people that don't know about what took place at Karn Weadock and all the other coal Consumers plants would only see all the good things they do in the communities in Michigan. Those who do know about the leakage will easily see that they have their company’s best interests in mind.  

Coal-burning isn’t a small business. Almost everywhere you go, there is a plant burning coal someplace close. Whether it affects the environment and people around it or not depends on how well the plant is cleaning up after themselves, and I don’t mean stuffing the ash somewhere no one goes and calling it ‘clean.’ Something these plants can use is composite liners. These liners coat the ground and don’t allow the sludge and ash to seep into the ground to contaminate water.  

A big stakeholder in the coal-burning industry is the site owners. A specific site I am looking at is the Karn Weadock plant in Essexville, Michigan. The site owner would be Consumers Energy. ‘The Karn Weadock plant was ranked 33rd on the list of most polluting power plants in terms of coal waste.’ (gem.wiki) 

Consumers Energy, in 2021, proposed to stop using coal as a fuel source by 2025, which is 15 years faster than what was initially planned. 

“ “We are proud to lead Michigan’s clean energy transformation and be one of the first utilities in the country to end coal use,” President and CEO Garrick Rochow said. “We are committed to being a force of change and good stewards of our environment, producing reliable, affordable energy for our customers while caring for our communities during this transition.”  (consumersenergy.org) 

The issue needed to be addressed is one that involves shutting down/ limiting the production of the coal-powered Consumers' Energy Power Plants. “When coal is burned to produce electricity, a toxic waste known as coal ash is left behind.” (earthjustice.org) This coal ash is filled with chemicals and toxins that can poison our water, air, and bodies if breathed/ingested. A big problem is that the power plants don’t clean up the mess they’ve created. Once the coal ash is mixed with water, it becomes a tar-like sludge that seeps into the ground and contaminates the groundwater that can be used for drinking. Therefore, it is especially important for the plants to clean up after themselves. 

In Michigan, it is presently known that there are about 37 coal ash ponds. The problem with this is that we’ve found alarming levels of lead and arsenic in the groundwater that we use to drink. “The new law requires existing and new coal plants to dispose of their coal ash in lined pits and close coal ash disposal sites within six months if high levels of toxins such as mercury, lead, and arsenic are found in the groundwater.” (earthjustice.org) 

In 2016, Hampton Township, Michigan, Consumers Energy made plans to demolish its J.C. Weadock coal-fired power plant. On June 13, 2018, Consumers Energy CEO, Patti Poppe, announced publicly that the Karn Weadock coal-burning power plant would be retired by 2023. This is because this plant emits almost three million tons of carbon emissions every year.  

“On December 16, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the first national standards to reduce mercury and other toxic air pollution from coal and oil-fired power plants.” (Cleaner Power Plants)  

In 1970, the ‘Clean Air Act was passed. “Congress designed the Clean Air Act to protect public health and welfare from different types of air pollution caused by a diverse array of pollution sources.” (Clean Air Act Requirements and History) The problem is, the Clean Air Act has not impacted the ability of the plants to stay open and function. Though this attempted solution did not solve the problem of coal ash and the problems it comes with, it proves some people are trying to make a difference.  

One of the easiest ways to get rid of this problem would be to just shut down the coal-burning plants. The only problem is the plants have the right to stay open and they can continue polluting the air and water around us. 

Change is happening all around the United States to stop these coal ash leaks from taking place. In the state of Illinois, rules were beginning to be made to stop the burning of coal. In 2013, the rules lay abandoned and unfinished until 2018 when the groundwater contamination throughout the state was revealed. On July 30, 2019, Earthjustice attorney, Jenny Cassel, began to advocate for the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act. “This law directs the state to adopt standards for coal ash lagoons that are at least “as protective and comprehensive” as the federal rules – and it requires utilities to compare different coal ash pond closure options, provides for robust public participation in the process, and requires owners of coal ash lagoons to set aside money for cleanup and closure so that taxpayers won’t end up footing the bill.” (earthjustice.org) 

The video below shows a Consumer's Energy Power Plant being decommissioned after 76 years of coal burning. As you can see in the video, not a single chunk of debris fell into the river when the plant was demolished. This was evidently done to keep the water from becoming more polluted than it needed to be. 

Another thing that can be done is to start a petition to shut down the rest of the coal plants and that should be sent to Michigan's state government. You could also get a massive group of people that agree with your thoughts to do a protest in front of the Michigan State Capitol.

Coal burning is a big deal and it's an issue that needs to be taken into consideration. People need to start pitching in and helping get rid of this problem. Coal ash is horrible to ingest and even go near. It has contaminated the groundwater that we need to drink and the air that we need to breathe. It has created problems for everyone.

Consumers Energy, in 2021, proposed to stop using coal as a fuel source by 2025, which is 15 years faster than what was initially planned. This will hugely impact the issue of coal ash in a positive way. If a corporation as large as Consumers Energy shuts down its power plant, it will raise awareness about how serious the problem of coal-burning is all around the world.

Coal ash is a problem in a variety of ways. It taints the water we drink and the air we breathe. It greatly pollutes the environment in which we live. Every day, more ash is created as a result of the increased use of coal, depleting the Earth's life.

The only way to solve these problems and live on a happy, healthy planet is to stop burning coal completely. The greatest approach to solving a problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place, and the government has more than enough power to stop coal from being burned.

After reading our webpage it would be greatly appreciated if you would answer our polls and if you feel compelled don't wait to send a letter to the representatives to take action on this problem.

CDC. “State Cancer Profiles > Incidence Rates Table.” National Cancer Institution, www.statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/incidencerates/index.php?%20%20stateFIPS=26&areatype=county&cancer=001&stage=999&race=00&sex=0&age=001&year=0&type=incd&sortVariableName=rate&sortOrder=desc#results.  Accessed 28 Mar. 2022.

Clean Energy | Consumers Energy. (n.d.). Www.consumersenergy.com. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.consumersenergy.com/company/clean-energy

“Coal Ash: Hazardous to Human Health.” Physicians for Social Responsibility, www.psr.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/coal-ash-hazardous-to-human-health.pdf. Accessed 13 Mar. 2022.

Graham, Lester. “Burning Coal Causes More than Air Pollution. Updated Report Looks at Coal Ash Contamination.” Michigan Radio, 20 May 2021, www.michiganradio.org/environment-science/2021-05-18/burning-coal-causes-more-than-air-pollution-updated-report-looks-at-coal-ash-contamination.

Kart, Jeff. “Consumers Energy Ash Piles Named on National List of Dangerous Sites.” Mlive, 4 Sept. 2009, www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/2009/09/consumers_energy_ash_piles_nam.html.

Knake, Lindsay. “Bay County’s Karn-Weadock Power Plant Timeline: Operations Began in 1940.” Mlive, 1 Nov. 2013, www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/2013/10/karn-weadock_timeline_operatio.html.

Martin, Bryce. “Report Details Coal Ash Pollution at Karn Weadock Landfills.” Midland Daily News, 23 Mar. 2016, www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Report-details-coal-ash-pollution-at-Karn-Weadock-6981421.php.

Surrusco, Emilie. ‘In The Fight To Clean Up Coal Ash, These States Are Making Progress’. February 6, 2020. https://earthjustice.org/blog/2020-february/in-the-fight-to-clean-up-  

coal-ash-these-states-are-making-progress   

Holford, Valerie. ‘Consumers Energy Announces Retirement of Karn Coal-Fired Power Plant’. June 13, 2018. https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2018/consumers-energy-announces-  

retirement-of-karn-coal-fired-power-plant   

‘Cleaner Power Plants’. https://www.epa.gov/mats/cleaner-power-plants   

Handler, Brad. ‘Phasing Out Coal Plants Worldwide Won’t Be Easy. These Four Approaches Could Help’. December 2, 2021.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/12/02/phasing-out-coal-plants-worldwide-wont-be-easy-these-four-approaches-could-help/  

Quarles, Mark. ‘Coal Ash Disposal - Stakeholders Beware’. March 10, 2020.  

https://www.bbjgroup.com/blog/coal-ash-disposal-stakeholders-beware  

‘EPA Takes Key Steps To Protect Groundwater From Coal Ash Contamination’. January 11, 2022. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-takes-key-steps-protect-groundwater-coal-ash-contamination   

Schwartz, Grace. ‘Raking Coal Ash Materials For Their Potential To Leach Arsenic And  

Selenium: Relative Importance Of Ash Chemistry And Site Biogeochemistry’. July 1, 2018. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/ees.2017.0347   

‘Coal Plant Decommissioning: Stakeholder Identification And Facilitation’. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-06/documents/4783_stakeholder_id_and_facilitation_508.pdf   

‘News Releases’. June 23, 2021. https://www.consumersenergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/2021/06/23/consumers-energy-announces-plan-to-end-coal-use-by-2025-lead-michigans-clean-energy-transformation   

Theel, Shauna. ‘REPORT: Network News Ignoring Toxic Coal Ash Spill In North Carolina’. February 2, 2014. https://www.allsides.com/news/2014-02-20-1302/report-network-news-ignoring-toxic-coal-ash-spill-north-carolina  

“About Bay County.” State & Federal Government Officials, https://www.baycounty-mi.gov/AboutBayCounty/StateFederalGovernmentOfficials.aspx.