CleanAIRE NC was recently invited to join with two coalition groups to discuss the complex issues surrounding the UNC-Chapel Hill Cogeneration Facility and the redevelopment of the town-owned property at 828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, formerly a coal ash dumping site. As these meetings unfolded, it became clear that the problems with these two sites were deeply intertwined, casting a long shadow over the city’s health and environment.
At the heart of the matter is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Cogeneration Facility, a coal and gas burning power plant situated in a residential neighborhood. Residents, students, and staff alike have expressed growing concern over the facility’s emissions, which include pollutants such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) at levels exceeding local and national averages. These emissions pose significant health risks to the community, particularly for those living in close proximity to the plant.
CleanAIRE NC’s EJ Program Manager, Z Strawderman was invited to tour the area around the facility and speak to community members. Transparency is a key concern. Little information is provided to the communities living near this facility in terms of what the facility is or even that they burn coal. It is co-located in a building complex that is identified as a “laundry” facility and the UNC website does not mention the burning of coal. Following this meeting, CleanAIRE NC was asked to meet with the group as a whole to share our expertise on air quality and potential air monitoring solutions.
Meanwhile, some of these community members are part of another group that have been talking about what should be done about the coal ash dumping site located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. For many years, coal ash, thought to originate from the UNC energy facility, was transported to this site and used as fill material. The site now houses a police station, but the legacy of coal ash contamination persists. The site has eroded and has been leaking coal ash into Bolin Creek, a beloved community resource, impacting both the adjacent Bolin Creek Greenway and the health of those who live nearby.
The Town of Chapel Hill’s recent proposal to develop low-income housing on the site sparked intense opposition from the community. Although removed from the original plans, residents still argue that the site must undergo a thorough cleanup and remediation before any new construction begins. The site is currently undergoing a brownfields agreement process, which aims to assess the contamination and develop a cleanup plan. NDEQ has published a draft agreement for this site and will hold a public meeting on September 18, providing an opportunity for community members to voice their concerns and influence the decision-making process.
