Ho, ho, ho!
On the cusp of Christmas, scientists have played Santa.
Well, sort of. Their “gift” wasn’t made sleigh-ready by St. Nick’s elves but was crafted through extensive studies. Scientists at the University of Texas and the University of Wyoming have released findings that reveal toxic coal ash has some significant environmental benefits.
Recently, I was surprised by this CNN headline: “Scientists find a huge trove of rare metals needed for clean energy hidden inside toxic coal ash.”
To appreciate that announcement, you need to know that Georgia Power has millions of tons of the poisonous industrial waste in ponds that are leaking into our state’s groundwater. The behemoth utility — bless its heart — plans to abandon burning coal. That’s good news, too.
And to Georgia Power’s credit, most of its dangerous coal ash has been dredged out of watery pits and stored more responsibly in dry, covered units. However, the company plans to leave millions more tons sitting and partially submerged in porous ponds.
Why would they do that? The answer lies in one word: money.
Cleaning up the environmental mess will be expensive. Procrastinating and taking a wait-and-see attitude will not make the task any cheaper in the years ahead. Instead, it will be the exact opposite. In the meantime, Georgia’s 11 million and growing population will be exposed to the health risks of heavy metals, including mercury, arsenic, and lead.
The CNN article doesn’t report the findings to be the silver bullet that could slay this natural health-harming demon, but it gives a glimmer of new hope.
So, what are these rare earth metals, and why are they essential to clean energy?
The article says: “These so-called rare earths are a cluster of metallic elements, with names like scandium, neodymium, and yttrium, which exist in the Earth’s core. They are critical in clean technology, including electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines.”
Right now, an estimated 95 percent of these much-needed elements are imported. And you might guess that China is America’s major supplier. That, alone, ought to motivate us to dig into the possibilities of turning toxic trash into something we could treasure — i.e., cleaner energy.
According to the Department of Energy, the United States has stored an estimated 2 billion tons of toxic coal ash. Even with the declining use of coal, the article says that the stockpile grows by about 70 million tons annually.
All that means is that we have billions of dollars in rare-earth elements waiting to be extracted. But don’t expect a “goldrush” fever to start the process of sifting for the scandium, neodymium, and yttrium.
Why? Because the process is expensive.
That’s the same reason companies like Georgia Power are stalling to go all-out in solving the toxic waste problem. Typically, money and fear of reduced profits are the roots of the reluctance to do what is right and best for the future.
But here’s another thought. If coal-burning plants believe their waste has more excellent value, they may do a better job managing and storing toxic coal ash. That would mean getting it out of those leaking ponds, now and not later.
And that would be a priceless gift to people today and tomorrow.
So, thank you, Santa scientists.
Ho, ho, ho!
Dink NeSmith is co-owner of Athens-based Community Newspapers Inc. and a past president of the Georgia Press Association. This editorial originally appeared in the Dec. 12, 2024, edition of The Oglethorpe Echo.