Why don't they use the flyash to make something benificial such as concrete

A couple of weeks ago they were saying there isn't a market for it in this economy. I guess they completely missed the housing boom of the last fifteen years or so. Also, at Kingston anyway, they would have to build a different "dry stack" storage system if I understand it correctly. And that would cost money. Probably more than one million dollars per day.

P.S. Beneficial use was discussed previously at KnoxViews:

http://www.knoxviews.com/node/10124

Also "toxic as dirt":

http://www.knoxviews.com/node/10010

Also, from a 2002 environmental impact statement re. NOx scrubbers:

http://www.tva.gov/environment/reports/kingston/chapter_3.pdf

Existing Conditions

KIF is expected to burn between 3.2 and 4.4 million tons of coal annually through at least 2015. The coal averages 12.5% ash, therefore total ash production will range from approximately 400,000 to 550,000 tons of ash per year. The ash is collected as either fly ash, which is fine enough and light enough to be carried with the flue gas stream exiting the boiler, or as bottom ash which is coarser and heavier and falls to the bottom
of the boiler. The fly ash/bottom ash split is about 80% fly ash and 20% bottom ash.

Prior to 1989, a small dry fly ash silo was operated at KIF, and small quantities of dry fly ash were marketed and utilized in TVA construction projects. This system is no longer operational, and the plant has determined that, based on high operation and maintenance costs, it is not economical to restore and maintain this system in order to market fly ash. In 1990, TVA evaluated the cost/benefit of installation of new equipment to collect dry fly ash but determined that it was not economical based on fly ash marketing alone. Due to the absence of an operational dry fly ash collection system at
KIF, none of the fly ash has been marketed since 1990.

All fly ash and bottom ash produced at KIF is currently sluiced to the active ash pond. Bottom ash is reclaimed for use in dike construction for the two dredge cells which were developed on part of the inactive ash pond area. Periodically, fly ash is hydraulically dredged from the active ash pond into either of two active dredge cells. Decant water from the dredge cells drains by gravity back to the active ash pond for discharge. Between 320,000 to 440,000 tons of fly ash and 80,000 to 110,000 tons of bottom ash
are handled in this manner annually.

Currently, no fly ash is being marketed or utilized at KIF. A market for bottom ash is being developed in 2002 which should result in sale of about 60,000 tons of bottom ash per year for the next five to ten years. As part of this project a pyrite separation system is being installed in the bottom ash handling equipment at the plant. Pyrites and mill rejects will be segregated from the bottom ash and used in construction of dredge cell
dikes.

This may be a good time to remind folks that eating dirt is a nifty way to get all sorts of sick.

Prior to 1989, a small dry fly ash silo was operated at KIF, and small quantities of dry fly ash were marketed and utilized in TVA construction projects. This system is no longer operational, and the plant has determined that, based on high operation and maintenance costs, it is not economical to restore and maintain this system in order to market fly ash.

Doesn't something need to be done with the fly ash or isn't it just going to keep stockpiling. I'm still not totally clear on the process, but one article I read, seemed to claim that the dry stack process is lower in cost than the wet flue gas desulfurization process.

Japan began its research of using fly ash as the desulphurizer in 1985. By the end of 1988, Japan finished the industrial experiment of the technology. In 1991, the first fly ash dry FGD equipment began to work. The processing gas volume reaches 644,000Nm3/h. Its desulphurization reached 60% and it worked stably and reached the standard of the normal wet FGD. The cost of desulphurizer is low. The use of water was little so there was no need of water discharge treatment and smoke discharge reheating. The price of the equipment was 1/4 less that that of the wet FGD. The fly ash desulphurizer can be reused. As there was no pasty stock, the maintenance is easy. The equipment system is simple and reliable.

link