The shuttered coal plant, which once supported well-paid jobs – becomes a liability in many communities, sitting vacant and blighted.  It can be turned into a major asset.

Those locations were chosen for access to transit, skilled workforce, stable surrounding communities, and proximity to dense markets.  Many of these advantages are still in place.  Today, the connections to the grid add new value.

A community can envision many uses. The federal government could use these sites to locate military and federal reservations. Under rapidly changing climate conditions, we need far better state and local oversight of weather, the grid, water, fire, and flood response.  Shuttered coal plant locations are well situated for facilities housing such activities.  Communities can envision these uses and work with local officials on their proposals.

From the Ashes

“Now what are they gonna do?” That was the first thought that popped into lifelong Springdale resident Debbie Sigmund’s head as she watched the June implosion of the Cheswick Generating Station. Across Springdale, PA residents like Sigmund — together with local officials supported by $150,000 in grant funding from the Heinz Endowments* — are looking toward a future that doesn’t involve the generating station. Conversely, the site’s owner, Louisville-based ash remediation company Charah Solutions, is hoping to maintain the industrial zoning of both the site and the broader riverfront district. 

Since the generating station’s closure in April 2022, residents have voiced the desire for a new vision for the site and riverfront district that involves as-yet-unspecified mixed-use development. Residents are especially hopeful for development that may bring businesses, like a much-needed grocery store, or recreational space for families.

Source: https://www.publicsource.org/springdale-development-heinz-endowments-implosion-green-energy-cheswick-allegheny/

The Midwest remains the nation’s industrial heartland, even in a shifting economy.  Central Appalachia,  with access to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, is in the middle of major markets.  Communities can envision the production of many resources for the new energy economy.

Communities can plan for redevelopment that builds a competitive advantage in the region.  Manufacturers will find locations promoting circular manufacturing – where the waste of one firm is a feedstock for another –  a competitive location. “Eco-industrial parks,” where production is based on the assets of a region — minimizing transport needs for both input and outputs and anchoring capital – will also make a region competitive.

Turning Liabilities into Assets

SYMBIOTIC PRODUCTION

REUSE OF WASTE STREAMS

CONTROL OF TOXICITY

COMMUNITY VOICE: LIMIT ON COSTS OF PRODUCTION TO WORKERS AND COMMUNITY

Liabilities on the site itself may become a feedstock for manufacturing and the creation of good jobs. 

Coal ash

One of the biggest barriers to redeveloping shuttered coal plants are the storage sites for the disposal of coal wastes (coal ash ponds), longstanding environmental risks to communities, but also representing a risk to a potential developer. With the right resources, however, these liabilities can be turned into opportunities.

Almost half of all the residue of burned coal at power plants is recovered and sold.   For instance, coal fly ash is used in the production of concrete and other construction materials; despite the large quantity of coal ash there’s not enough ready to use in the United States, so much is currently imported from India! In the long run, it is possible this waste can also be mined for critical minerals and rare earth materials needed by electric vehicles and other new energy sectors. There is plenty of waste in the United States that requires processing so it is usable, and these reuses might be considered during redevelopment. Coal waste streams contain toxins, so care must be taken to protect communities and workers in the reuse of such substances. An overview of reuse, and recommendations for protections, are provided in these reports:

WHAT’S NEXT?