Duke Energy appeals state order to remove coal ash

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy has officially appealed a state order demanding the company clean up coal ash from six sites across the state.

Two of the sites are in the Charlotte area near local lakes.

In the petition obtained by Channel 9, Duke said the state failed to follow the law when ordering the company to move all the coal ash, a mistake it said could cost customers billions.

[ALSO READ: Duke Energy says it may not make deadline to remove coal ash]

Watch the video above as Channel 9's Tina Terry digs through the petition and breaks downs what Duke Energy is saying in their petition. 

Duke Energy statement:

"As expected, Duke Energy filed to appeal the DEQ's order to excavate coal ash at the remaining six NC sites. This includes two in the Catawba Basin, Marshall on Lake Norman and Allen on Lake Wylie. A variety of complaints are outlined, most concern the process by which the decision was made. The full documents can be found here.

"By appealing, Duke is continuing the strategy of delay. While this decision is fought in the courts, full coal ash excavation is nearing completion in SC and starting in Virginia. While Duke is spending time and money on legal battles, contaminants at six sites in NC continue to poison our groundwater.

"The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation has been actively litigating to protect our waters from coal ash contamination since 2012 and will continue to do so. We support the NC DEQ's decision to order full excavation and removal or recycling of the unlined, leaking coal ash ponds."

Cox Media Group