In 2024, CleanAIRE NC was 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.
We thought burning coal was bad! Following the initial publication of this blog, the UNC Cogeneration Facility submitted an application to the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to modify its air permit. The requested permit modification would allow it to burn a new type of fuel—pellets made from industrial paper and plastic waste.
While the facility claims this is a step away from coal, the permit request doesn’t restrict their continued use of coal or gas. It also omits crucial information on the impacts of burning waste pellets, including legitimate concerns around the potential for PFAS contamination. This means we could face increased pollution from multiple sources.
In response to these growing concerns, CleanAIRE NC visited Chapel Hill and worked directly with residents and community groups to deploy air quality sensors in strategic locations near the Cogeneration Facility. These sensors will collect valuable, real-time data on local air pollution levels, providing the community with the information they need to advocate for cleaner air and hold the facility accountable. (Updated on February 7, 2025)
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 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.
On December 30, 2024, DEQ sent a signed Brownfields Agreement to the Town of Chapel Hill. Town staff are currently reviewing the agreement, and expect to sign it as well. While the draft agreement does not make any decisions about the future of the property, it does outline what uses will and will not be allowed there.
In short, the Town of Chapel Hill is:
For more information, go to https://www.townofchapelhill.org/residents/community-sustainability/municipal-services-center-project.
