Duke Energy Progress has been ordered to pay $25.1 million in as fine due to coal ash contamination at a plant near Wilmington, North Carolina.

On Tuesday, the North Carolina State Department of Environmental and Natural Resources made the announcement. The department stated that Duke Energy for several years has allowed huge amount of coal ash contaminants to enter into the groundwater at the facility.

The complete amount will be given to a state fund for public schools. DENR Secretary Donald R. van der Vaart said, "In addition to holding the utility accountable for past contamination we have found across the state, we are also moving expeditiously to remove the threat to our waterways and groundwater from coal ash ponds statewide".

Last biggest penalty for environmental violations levied by the North Carolina DENR was $5.6 million. The pollution has been entering into groundwater from a pair of coal ash pits at a no-more working power plant. The fine has been issued over ongoing contamination at the L. V. Sutton Electric Plant outside Wilmington.

As per the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the levied fine is the largest one for environmental damages. The state thinks that the fine should be considered as an important development in order to hold Duke accountable for years of pollution.

Donald R. van der Vaart, the department's secretary, said that the decision is yet another aggressive approach the administration has taken on coal ash. Environmental groups said that the fine does not force Duke to Clean up the pollution.

Without the cleaning act, groundwater near Flemington will remain contaminated. Burdette said that a $25 million fine does not take any action to clean the contamination happened due to Duke's coal ash ponds. The company has 30 days to appeal the fine.