Chattanooga Group Protests TVA's Use Of Coal

James Kane

Kane and other members of Chattanooga Earth First demand more accountability from TVA and a change in its behavior.

"I would like to see TVA take better care of their sledge ponds...build no more steam plants and greatly increase their support for renewable energy...and completely stop using mountain top removal coal," Amanda Cagle told News 12.

 Amanda Cagle

TVA officials believe a faulty pipe caused sludge to leak from the Widows Creek power plant near Stevenson, Alabama and into a nearby settling pond earlier this month.

The utility found 10,000 gallons of waste water spilled from an ash pond, but insist it poses no threat.

In December, a dike burst at a TVA plant near Kingston, Tennessee releasing more than one-billion gallons of toxic-laden coal ash into a neighborhood.

In a phone interview, a TVA spokeswoman says TVA continues to work 24/7 to recover the {Kingston} site...remove ash...continue to monitor air, water and soil.{We're} working with communities to meet their needs and have an outreach support center available.

Kane says he understands coal production can't and won't stop tomorrow, but insists on seeing a progressive change from the power company.

The coal spills have garnered national attention and lead to an e-mail campaign and lawsuits against TVA.