Dive Brief:
- An estimated 8,000 gallons of oil were spilled into the Ohio River during a fuel transfer late on Monday at Duke Energy's W.C. Beckjord power station near Cincinnati, Ohio.
- The U.S. Coast Guard has shut down a 15-mile portion of the river as it aims to contain and clean up the spill.
- It was not immediately clear if any drinking water had been contaminated or if wildlife in the area was impacted. Duke Energy said it was "still assessing the situation and any effects that may occur."
Dive Insight:
The spill is reminiscent of the coal ash spill in the Dan River that plagued Duke Energy throughout the spring. It's safe to say that shareholders of the utility company will not be pleased with this latest incident and neither will environmentalists.
Regardless, the W.C. Beckjord plant isn't long for this world. It is expected to be fully retired by the end of this year and four of its six coal-fired units have already been shuttered. The plant also has four oil-fired units that generate electricity when the grid is strained.