By Drue Perkins, Mountain Brook High School
Tomorrow-TODAY Staff Writer
Hoping to “clean up the largest problem currently facing Alabama’s freshwater supply,” Senate Floor Leader William Tabb wrote legislation requiring “Alabama Power to move all coal ash out of dump pits that are unlined and leaking arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium into Alabama’s waterways” at no cost to the state. Ranking No. 1 in freshwater biodiversity, Alabama contains 10% of the nation’s freshwater. The Senate approved the bill today and it is on the House docket for consideration Saturday, March 1.
Under HB114, Alabama Power Co. would lose a coal production credit of $1 per ton until the utility complied. Alabama Power is at risk of losing revenue if they continue to “Dump in the Rivers,” the bill states.
In his opening statement, Tabb stressed the importance of Alabama’s freshwater, pointing out that when “Governor (William Wyatt) Bibb created the state seal in 1820, he included Alabama’s waterways.” In addition, Tabb emphasized not only the dangers of coal ash polluting the waterways but also the threat to the health of Alabamians who live near Alabama Power dump pits.
During the debate, delegates had concerns about this bill’s effect on low-income Alabamians as prices of power would increase if Alabama Power passed the cost of removing coal ash from their dump pits onto their customers. Despite this, delegates supported this bill to keep clean water in Alabama for consumption and tourism, holding corporations accountable, and benefitting state constituents’ health.
In his closing, Tabb said the legislation would expand Alabama’s concrete industry, as concrete is needed to line the dump pits.
North and South Carolina have successfully implemented similar bills, Tabb said, adding Alabama is on its way to preserving its freshwater ways as well with the Senate’s passage of his bill.