Residents in one Bay County neighborhood say they’re tired of cleaning a black residue off their property.
"You get a black, almost chalky residue on your house, vehicles, it is on my porch," says Ron Becker, who lives on Bay Road in Bangor Township, pointing at his porch. "I just cleaned this off last week, because I didn't want it to get on your hand and be tracked into the house. It’s already back again."
Becker says he and several other neighbors believe the dust is coming from the nearby Karn-Weadock Generating Complex.
"I think it's the Weadock Plant because at times when they're firing it off it’s like a haze in the air."
A spokesperson from Consumers Energy says the company has other theories. The black residue could be mold or black sap from a nearby tree. Consumers Energy says it has no way to know because it hasn’t examined the residue. If residents request it, the company says it will test it.
Theoretically the wind could carry coal dust here, but the plant says it tries to prevent that with sprinklers.
Becker says he hopes the residue doesn’t leave him with a health mess.
“If it is on your property, you’re breathing it in.”
Becker says he will look into having Consumers Energy test the material on his property. If he does so, NBC25 will bring you the results.
