Duke Energy and Lee County natives in North Carolina are struggling to reach a settlement over disputed toxic ash produced from the burning of coal to harness electricity. “It leaves behind ash that can contain arsenic, selenium, boron and many other toxic substances.For decades, that ash simply has been buried in pits near the power plants and covered with water. Now, in North Carolina, it’s become a multibillion dollar problem.

After a massive spill into the Dan River last year, the state ordered Duke Energy to clean up more than 100 million tons of stored coal ash, and the company has drawn up a plan that involves transporting it to two abandoned clay mines in Lee County.” [NPR]

Willbros Group Inc, an engineering firm has warned that the downturn in its oil-and-gas business could lead to credit defaults. “Shares of the energy-sector infrastructure contractor fell 56% to $2.42 in recent trading, after hitting an all-time-low of $1.50 earlier. The company also said it expects to miss the deadline for its annual financial report.

Willbros said Tuesday that it is in talks with lenders to amend or get waivers on its credit agreements because the company expects to be out of compliance with certain debt-ratio requirements through next March.” [WSJ]

GE $17 billion acquistion of Alstom will result in the company shifting the majority of its renewable energy operations to Paris to comply with EU anti-trust laws. “The firms had already agreed to form a renewable energy joint venture that both companies would own. Alstom is surviving as a standalone company that includes its well-known transportation businesses.

However, in recent days, Alstom chief executive Patrick Kron has been quoted by various news services as having said that GE will put its renewable energy headquarters in Paris as part of the deal.” [Times Union]