Coal Ash and the Toxic Legacy of Fossil Capital

For over a century, AES Indiana and its predecessors have prided themselves on providing cheap, efficient coal-generated energy to Hoosiers. But what did this cheap power truly cost? While coal pushed the United States into a new age of industrialization, the coal ash pits at the Harding Street Station power plant on the southwest side of Indianapolis have caused major issues for the local environment.

In 1925, developers started selling a dream in Sunshine Gardens. Families bought into that dream and now Sunshine Gardens is set in a little valley on the southwest side of Indianapolis near the Harding Street Station. Many families have lived in Sunshine Gardens since those few first homes in the 1920s. Recently, residents like Joyce Craven have discovered toxic levels of boron and other heavy metals in their drinking water. Keep reading to learn more about their experiences.

The Anthropocene is the current geological age in which humans are the primary influence on the environment and the climate. It coincides with the emergence of the Industrial Revolution in the 19 ^th  century, during which capitalism drove industry and coal rose to the forefront as the dominant energy source.

Coal continues to dominate today’s energy industries and its environmental and human impacts permeate physical and cultural landscapes. Even as we begin to be more conscientious of our effects on the climate and strive to shift to cleaner, more renewable forms of energy, individuals, industries, and governments must deal with the lasting impacts of fossil capital.

“These coal plant sites that operated for nearly a century in some cases buried toxic waste all over. As these sites are retired, and in order to make sure this isn’t a long toxic legacy, you have to deal with all the toxic sources” – Lisa Evans, senior attorney at Earthjustice, quoted in Courier Journal, January 5, 2022

“The overall conclusion of this preliminary analysis is that toxic concentrations of coal ash contaminants have been migrating in all directions from the ponds since the 1980s and probably much longer” -J. Russell Boulding, Hoosier Environmental Council consulting geologist, March 2014, quoted in Our Waters at Risk, 2014

Sunshine Gardens is located 1.5 miles downstream of the Harding Street Station.

The subdivision was there in the 1920s before the plant was constructed. It is a small, working-class neighborhood, with about 200 homes.

It was promoted as a place to move away from the dirt, noise, and smoke of the city. Sunshine Gardens was advertised as a great place to raise children.

But today, it is a place where residents are worried about their health and safety.

Their drinking water is at risk of contamination from the Harding Street Station coal ash ponds and other toxic industrial sites in the area.

The water already shows elevated levels of boron, though these levels are currently within "safe" drinking water levels. Groundwater contamination from unlined coal ash ponds can occur within approximately one mile of the ponds, by some estimates, if not farther.

“None of us knew about the coal ash ponds; we didn’t even know they existed. We didn’t give a thought about the plant being there and the problems it could cause other than the air pollution.” – Stella Harper, lifetime Sunshine Gardens resident, 2017, quoted in Indianapolis Star September 24, 2017

Sunshine Gardens was built in the 1920s before the Harding Street Station was constructed. However, for most of its existence, Sunshine Gardens residents have had to deal with the Harding Street Station's air, water, and ground pollution, from the time of the powerplant's construction to its growth throughout the decades.

As the city grew and the needs of the residents, businesses, and industries also grew, IPL constantly increased HSS’s generating capacity throughout the years At the same time, IPL was creating more waste, necessitating the construction of more coal ash ponds.

Industrialization and the growth of populations ushered in a greater need for energy, and IPL, now AES Indiana, helped provide cheap, efficient power to the masses through its coal-powered plants. It fueled the growth of the city and provided jobs, in turn necessitating greater growth of the power plant. As it did this, it also harmed the environment through air, ground, and water pollution, negatively impacting the communities within its shadow.  

The switch from coal power to natural gas in 2016 at the Harding Street Station was not a choice based on environmental concerns and human health protection, but rather one that was based on cost-efficiency, in order to still comply with the EPA’s regulations.

As cities grew and people needed more power, these ponds filled with the waste of the power plant. They are a part of our history, a history of growth, but also of one that marginalized "lower-class" communities, the environment, and the health of wildlife. It is our heritage. We must deal with it. We must reflect on where we have been, where we are, and how to move forward sustainably as we deal with this toxic heritage.

Approved coal ash closure plans “are in compliance with all state and federal regulations, and are protective of human health and the environment.” – Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 2021, quoted in Indianapolis Star, February 14, 2021

AES Indiana intends to close the EPA-regulated coal ash ponds in place. However, following the law is not always enough. The EPA has been deferring the push to deal with the nation's coal ash pits and has made numerous exceptions to the law for energy companies. As a result, numerous environmental groups are suing the EPA.

The state of Indiana has fallen behind its fellow states in supporting and passing environmental protection regulations. It has resisted, killed, and rolled back numerous environmental regulations.

Closure in place, allowed by the EPA Coal Ash Rule, is the preferred method of utility companies for closing coal ash pits. This process involves covering the coal combustion residuals where they are, in unlined pits. Because the pits are unlined, they can still leach into the groundwater and cause contamination.

Closure in place is the cheapest, easiest method that adheres to the regulations. However, leaving coal ash in place means that toxins can continue to leach into waterways and groundwater, contaminating nearby neighborhoods, and risking catastrophic environmental disasters if the White River floods.

“Based on initial [nature and extent] sampling results, IPL has determined that groundwater concentrations above applicable groundwater protections standards underlie the Hanson Aggregates property, located at 4200 S Harding St, Indianapolis, Indiana” - Mark Holbrook, Plant Manager, IPL Harding Street in February 10, 2020 letter to Randy Jones, Plant Manager Hanson Aggregates (quarry adjacent to HSS)

Toxins found in coal ash have already begun infiltrating our groundwater systems. We need to prevent further contamination and work to rectify the harm that has already been done.

A flood could also present risk, collapsing the levees or flooding above them, thus causing the toxins from yet-uncovered ponds to enter the flood waters, contaminating the surrounding land and waterways.

The monitoring wells at the Harding Street Station show elevated levels of toxins. Many of these levels are above what is considered safe for drinking water.

How can we make a difference, and ensure that we move beyond what is the bare minimum these companies and government entities can do within the language of the law, to ensure they do what is right for the people being directly affected by this poisonous legacy of harm?

“If they would have done it right in the first place and had these pits with liners, like they require it now because they know it’s bad, then we wouldn’t be here. But this is proof positive [testing results], and something they will have to take seriously now…hopefully” -Joyce Cravens, Sunshine Gardens resident, 2018, quoted in Indianapolis Star March 22, 2018

"I just want to know, what is the next step?" -Joyce Cravens, Sunshine Gardens resident, 2018, quoted in Indianapolis Star March 28, 2018

Indiana is behind many other states in its transition to renewable energy sources and in cleaning up the pollution and waste left by nonrenewable energy. It has repeatedly resisted legislation that would promote environmental protections and cleanup. What can we do to help and encourage addressing this toxic heritage?

Indiana legislation passed in 2021, giving the Indiana Department of Environmental Management the authority to develop a permit program for the CCR rule under the WIIN Act. In 2022, pieces of legislation introduced in the Indiana House of Representatives (HR 1335) and the Indiana Senate (SB 412) to require the safe disposal of coal ash as part of state law were killed in committee and thus were not passed. The Sunshine Gardens community has been pushing for changes, and local non-profit organizations, such as  Hoosier Environmental Council , provide resources for Indiana residents to learn more about the issue of coal ash, and how they can help

Private wells are not currently regualted by the state of Indiana. Testing your water will not only protect your household, it will hold companies accountable.

You can also keep an eye on the toxin levels at the HSS monitoring wells here:

The Environmental Protection Agency also has an application that allows people to view the conditions of the waterways near their home:

Supporting government officials who promote environmental issues and protecting people from the harm of coal ash ponds and other toxic heritage is an effective and achievable action you can take. Contact your legislatures in order to express your support for stricter regulation enforcement here:

In 2018 Jodi Perras of the Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign collected 450 signatures petitioning IPL to close its coal ash ponds by relocating the coal ash into a dry, covered, lined landfill. Supporting groups and campaigns such as these, with your time or money, can encourage change.

Addressing the toxic legacy of coal ash can seem daunting. It is just one of many hazardous materials affecting our waterways. But strengthening and enforcing legislation and testing our waters are important first steps to achieving a more sustainable and healthful heritage.

“The natural inclination when you first start something like this is to point fingers and to assign blame, but we are beyond that right now, and the bottom line is need we [sic] to work together on this. We can’t deny it anymore, so we just need to figure out a solution”  -Joyce Cravens, Sunshine Gardens resident, 2018, quoted in Indianapolis Star March 22, 2018