Danville, VA; Water's Safe To Drink, Say Leaders; Meanwhile, Good Luck W. Economic Development, Jobs
DANVILLE, Va. (AP) -- When a massive coal ash spill was swept down the Dan River through Danville, the toxic stew smudged this proud mill city's vision of building a new, diversified economic base.
Once a thriving hub for tobacco and textiles, civic leaders now are left to repeatedly assure residents of this city of 43,000 that the water is safe to drink, forget about persuading businesses to sink roots here. The spill is already being used by competitors to lure business prospects away from Danville, a city official says.
With the full environmental consequences of the spill years away, community leaders fear the city's efforts to redefine itself have suffered immeasurably. "It's like the town itself has been covered with coal ash, is what it really comes down to," said Andrew Lester, executive director of the Roanoke River Basin Association, a water protection group. "Anyone who would consider moving here would have second thoughts."
The city is now looking to Duke Energy to make good on the damage it has done. The nation's largest power company owns the impoundment pond less than 25 miles upriver from Danville that sprung a leak, spewing the coal ash into the Dan and coating its waters for 70 miles.
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