Duke Energy has confirmed groundwater pollution from unlined coal ash pits in North Carolina, which has led to toxic contamination affecting water sources, though the specific claim about 'forever chemicals' and direct poisoning of people requires more precise evidence.
Duke energy has ruined ground water in areas of North Carolina by taking detrimental short cuts by not lining waste pits allowing toxic forever chemicals to leach into ground water lakes poisoning people

Toxic Coal Ash in North Carolina: Addressing Coal Plants’ Hazardous Legacy - Earthjustice
Source: earthjustice.org
Key Evidence
Duke Energy confirmed pollution of groundwater at unlined coal ash pits across North Carolina with arsenic, cobalt, and radioactive materials.
southernenvironment.orgsouthernenvironment.orgDuke Energy Confirms Pollution of Groundwater, Stability Problems at Unlined...
southernenvironment.orgsouthernenvironment.orgDuke Energy filings confirm groundwater pollution at Carolinas coal ash sites
selc.orgselc.orgDuke Energy Filings Confirm Groundwater Pollution at Coal Ash Sites in Carolinas
The contamination poses risks to wetlands and drinking water reservoirs near these sites.
southernenvironment.orgsouthernenvironment.orgDuke Energy power plant chemicals linked to contamination of nearby municipal...
Duke Energy has agreed to remove coal ash as part of a major cleanup effort acknowledging the environmental hazards.
pbs.orgpbs.orgDuke Energy agrees to remove coal ash in North Carolina
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple credible sources confirm that Duke Energy's coal ash storage practices in North Carolina have resulted in significant groundwater pollution. The company has stored coal ash in unlined pits, which has allowed hazardous substances such as arsenic, cobalt, and radioactive materials to leach into groundwater and nearby water bodies. This contamination poses environmental and public health risks, including potential impacts on drinking water supplies.
However, the claim specifically mentions 'toxic forever chemicals' (commonly referring to PFAS compounds), which are a distinct class of persistent chemicals. The available sources primarily document pollution from coal ash-related heavy metals and radioactive substances rather than PFAS or similar 'forever chemicals.' While the contamination is serious and harmful, the direct linkage to PFAS-type chemicals is not clearly established in the provided evidence.
Furthermore, the phrase 'poisoning people' implies confirmed widespread human health impacts directly attributable to this contamination. While there is documented risk and some municipalities have taken action to remove contaminants from water supplies, definitive proof of widespread poisoning is not detailed in these sources.
In response to these issues, Duke Energy has agreed to undertake one of the largest coal ash cleanups in U.S. History, indicating acknowledgment of the problem and steps toward remediation.
Key points:
Duke Energy’s unlined coal ash pits have polluted groundwater with hazardous substances.
Contaminants include arsenic, cobalt, and radioactive materials but not conclusively PFAS ('forever chemicals').
There is environmental and public health risk; municipalities are actively addressing contamination.
Duke Energy is committed to removing coal ash to safer storage sites.
Overall, the claim about groundwater pollution and harmful shortcuts by Duke Energy is supported by evidence, but the specific mention of 'forever chemicals' and direct poisoning requires more precise substantiation.