Duke Energy won't be allowed to make its customers pay the more than $210 million needed to recoup coal-ash cleanup costs after the utility failed to follow the proper steps to recover those expenses, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled.

The utility plans to test for toxic heavy metals at about 400 homes and businesses where coal ash was used as fill in construction.

Coal ash contains heavy metals like mercury, cadmium and arsenic that can seep into groundwater and pollute drinking water sources.

The EPA is denying requests by three Midwest power plants to extend operations of leaking or otherwise dangerous coal ash storage ponds. EPA says plants in Indiana, Ohio and Iowa will have to close coal ash ponds months or years ahead of schedule.

The northern Indiana utility NIPSCO plans to remove coal ash from five ponds at its Michigan City Generating Station which will close by 2028, but will keep a legacy coal ash pond in place as well as coal ash fill on the site.

Indiana lags behind other states when it comes to closing toxic coal ash ponds safely. Thats according to a new report by the Hoosier Environmental Council.

Coal ash contains toxic heavy metals like arsenic. Exposure to it can cause cancer, damage your nervous system, and cause other health issues.

Coal ash from a nearby landfill contaminated drinking water wells in Pines with toxic heavy metals. Ash was also used as fill in construction sites at homes and roads in the area.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a memo this week saying contamination in groundwater that feeds into rivers, streams, and lakes doesnt need to be regulated under the Clean Water Act.

Indiana Department of Environmental Management sent letters to utilities in December noting that it can't give approval until utilities show how the plans will control contamination.