99% Invisible
Valley So Low
Jan 28, 2025
Jared Sullivan, author of "Valley So Low," dives deep into the catastrophic 2008 coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee. He unpacks the aftermath of the disaster, revealing the toxic legacy left on the community. Sullivan discusses the transformation of the Tennessee Valley Authority from a New Deal initiative into a profit-driven entity. The conversation includes the long legal battles faced by affected residents and critiques TVA's delayed shift toward cleaner energy. It’s a compelling look at environmental justice and the struggle for accountability in the wake of corporate negligence.
33:59
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Quick takeaways
- The Kingston Coal Ash Spill revealed severe gaps in safety and health accountability for workers managing toxic coal waste in public utilities.
- The Tennessee Valley Authority's pivot from a public mission to a profit-driven model highlighted conflicts between community welfare and energy production priorities.
Deep dives
The Kingston Coal Ash Spill
In December 2008, a catastrophic incident known as the Kingston Coal Ash Spill occurred when the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) coal ash containment failed, releasing a billion gallons of toxic sludge across 300 acres. This disaster, which initially seemed miraculous as it resulted in no deaths, led to severe health consequences for the cleanup workers who were exposed to harmful toxins. Many of these workers fell ill in the years that followed, suffering from diseases linked to the inhalation of coal ash, which contained hazardous substances like arsenic and mercury. The event highlighted profound gaps in safety and accountability in managing coal waste in the countryside.
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