TVA will spend up to two-billion dollars to convert ten existing wet coal ash ponds to dry storage facilities.

TVA President and CEO Tom Kilgore provided an update on the process today.  He says it will take nearly a decade to complete.

The Kingston Plant, where several million cubic yards of wet coal ash burst through the wall of a retention pond, will be converted first.  Kilgore says history caught up with the federal utility.  "Since we've had the largest accident with ash, I want to have the best ash storage from here forward. And to go less than that maybe we save a few hundred million dollars and that's not inconsequential, but there's always that, ok, should you have gone further."

Kilgore says about 40% of TVA's coal ash byproduct could be marketed and sold for use in dry wall, asphalt, and other materials.

TVA hopes that, along with less reliance on coal to produce power, will lessen the cost that will be passed on to power users.
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