The Dan River Steam Station began construction in 1949, and was finished the following year. Coal units 1 and 2 cost a combined $15 million and were, at the time, cutting-edge. The third unit was added six years later, and two natural gas-fueled
combined cycle turbines are planned for the near future. At that time, the education requirements were disproportionately harming African-Americans and the well paying positions were only being filled by white employees. The Court found that the education requirements would only be legal under Title VII if they were reasonably related to the job in question. Therefore, because the education requirements were not reasonably related to the jobs, they were not proper.
Coal plant closure The coal-fired plant ceased operation in 2012, and Duke Energy completed demolition of the coal plant buildings in 2017.
2014 Coal ash spill On February 2, 2014, a drainage pipe for a
coal ash containment pond burst, sending 39,000 tons of coal ash into the
Dan River and causing extensive
water pollution. In addition to the coal ash, 27 million gallons of
wastewater from the plant was also released into the river. Duke Energy later pled guilty to
criminal negligence in its handling of coal ash at the Dan River Plant and at other facilities, and paid substantial fines. In addition, the states affected launched a lawsuit on July 18, 2019, asking that the court declare Duke Energy responsible for the damage done to the environment by the spill. ==Addition of combined cycle turbines==