State senators are wisely reluctant to accept Gov. Pat McCrory's plan for cleaning up coal ash without some important changes.
Spills and seepage from unlined storage ponds entered the public consciousness earlier this year when a toxic spill into the Dan River showed the potential for problems at sites across the state.
Most agree that the governor's plan has some merit. Duke Energy would have to submit plans for closing four ash dumps at operational coal plants. Plans would also be created for the 10 sites tied to defunct plants. Duke would have to report spills within 24 hours instead of 48.
But the proposal from McCrory, who previously worked for Duke, includes no timetable. It also stops short of forcing removal of ash from aging sites, even though they're leaking into the groundwater. It gives too much discretion to state regulators already accused of an inappropriate cozy relationship with Duke.
Duke has balked at being required to close all the sites, saying it would take $10 billion and several decades. But if forced, they'll clean it as quickly as the law dictates. The law should also protect Duke customers from shouldering the entire cleanup tab. Duke has responsibility too.
Senators should stick to their guns.
