Could fly ash begin life anew at the Norfolk Ford plant?

"There's going to be a plant to make this," Bruce Grulke said while holding up a small block of concrete.

Grulke, who is a local architect and self-proclaimed concrete enthusiast, was speaking last week at the Executive Discussion Series presented by Cox Business and Inside Business. …

So who in their right mind thinks it's a viable idea to manufacture concrete using controversial and possibly harmful fly ash at the Norfolk Ford plant, perhaps one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in Hampton Roads?

The long-shot idea has recently been broached by, among others, Jerry Robertson, head of the Virginia Applied Technology and Professional Development Center at Old Dominion University's Batten College of Engineering and Technology.

Robertson, some researchers, Grulke and others want to conduct research locally to prove what others already believe - that concrete made with fly ash is lighter, stronger, more energy-efficient than typical concrete, and safe to use.