Who's in charge? Fix the particulars later; now we need coal ash solution

It is kind of hard to actually know what to think when it comes to the Duke Energy coal ash concerns.

For counties like Wayne that have coal ash ponds in them, the issue is much less about who should be in charge than who is actually getting something done.

So while the lawsuit that is challenging the group put in charge of regulating the coal ash cleanup is interesting, it is also scary.

Getting caught up in a bureaucratic he said she said isn't going to get the answers for the communities affected by these ponds.

Duke Energy says that it is doing everything it can to keep the community safe and that the ponds are no threat. State officials and residents are not so sure.

And that means someone needs to be watching.

Taking care of North Carolina's streams and water reserves is a top priority -- and one that should be pursued reasonably, but doggedly.

So decide who is in charge, make the changes and get back to the job at hand.

Published in Editorials on November 14, 2014 11:07 AM