The Chesterfield power station (above) has been ordered to remove 15 million yd3 of coal ash.
Charah Solutions Inc. has been awarded a marketing contract by Dominion Energy for the beneficiation and utilization of up to 8.1 million tons of reclaimed ponded coal ash at its Chesterfield Power Station in Chester, Virginia.
Legislation passed during the 2019 Virginia General Assembly requires Dominion Energy to remove approximately 15 million cubic yards (yd3) of coal ash currently stored in two coal ash ponds at Chesterfield Power Station within 15 years. The coal ash must be recycled or placed in a lined landfill that meets federal coal combustion residuals (CCR) and Virginia CCR regulations. To meet the standards mandated in Virginia Senate Bill 1355, Dominion Energy has contracted with Charah Solutions for the coal ash utilization efforts effective 2021 through 2032. Dominion Energy will store the remaining coal ash in an adjacent lined landfill.
As part of the agreement, Charah Solutions will install processing and transportation infrastructure in 2021 to facilitate rail transportation of the ash from Chesterfield Power Station to cement kiln feed markets. The beneficiated ash product will replace other currently utilized virgin raw materials in the production of Portland cement at multiple cement kiln locations in the eastern U.S. for the next 10-plus years and help supply the growing demand for concrete in the construction industry. In addition, every ton of coal ash used to replace traditional virgin raw materials in the production of cement reduces carbon dioxide emissions entering the atmosphere.
“Charah Solutions is nationally recognized in the power generation industry as a total solutions company, providing unparalleled service and innovation to meet the evolving and increasingly complex needs of our utility partners,” Charah Solutions President and CEO Scott Sewell said. “Many utilities, like Dominion Energy, are experiencing an increased need to retire and decommission older generating assets while improving the environment. We have been proud to partner with Dominion Energy on their sustainability efforts for many years and are delighted to extend our relationship at this site for the next 12 years.”
The beneficiated ash will be distributed through Charah Solutions’ MultiSource materials network, a unique distribution system of more than 40 nationwide locations that provides a continuous and reliable supply of supplementary cementitious materials for cement and concrete producers as well as other customers who beneficially reuse the products.
