Residents near the Dan River and Belews Lake joined a listening session Thursday.
Duke Energy says it's on track to stop generating electricity with coal by 2035. That includes the Belews Creek site in Stokes County, one of its largest plants.
State environmental regulators recently approved a major step in the coal ash cleanup process at the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County.
It's been five months since state regulators ordered Duke Energy to excavate coal ash at six remaining sites across North Carolina. Duke is taking steps to modernize the plant, but for those who live nearby, the action isn't enough.
Former Vice President Al Gore was in Stokes County on Monday to raise awareness about several environmental issues.
Public hearings are taking place across the state for residents that live near Duke Energy's coal ash pits.