Duke Energy moves forward on transmission lines
Counties opposing Duke Energy’s proposed 45-mile transmission line have more time to register their opposition to the company’s plans, but barely any options for stopping construction.
The proposed line would run from Campobello, S.C., to Duke Energy’s Asheville Plant outside Asheville, and will help meet increasing demand in those growing areas, according to the company.
“Since 1970, overall energy usage has more than doubled and the peak demand has increased 360 percent in western North Carolina,” said Duke spokesperson Meghan Musgrave. “We are forecasting additional growth of 15 percent over the next decade.”
The public comment period was set to expire at the end of July, but Duke has extended the deadline to Aug. 31.
Some of the counties involved are registering their opposition to the proposed line, but in the end, citizens may be forced to try to settle the matter in court.
In early August, the Polk County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution that “encourages Duke Energy to locate the proposed 230-kV transmission lines outside the boundaries of Polk County.” The resolution, however, has no legal force to block Duke’s construction.
“We’ve been forced by our constituents to take a stand because they’re so upset,” said Polk County Chairman Tom Pack. “I think the citizens themselves may try to take some legal action if their property is affected.”
The same frustration was displayed at the Aug. 3 board of commissioners meeting in Henderson County, when residents spoke out against Duke constructing power lines in the county. While the board sympathized with the constituents, they conceded that they didn’t have much influence in the situation.
“And the reason is this board finds itself in a gun fight and we’ve not got any bullets,” said Commissioner Grady Hawkins.
According to Duke Energy’s website, the company plans on finishing a study and assessment of the routes and will make a recommendation in early October, instead of December as originally planned.
The route will have to be approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission and the Public Service Commission of South Carolina before construction can begin.
By 2017, Duke plans to have started construction on the lines with a goal to have them in service by 2019. By 2020, Duke will convert its Asheville power plant from coal to natural gas to reduce its environmental footprint, while saving the company money and increasing electricity generation.
This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 2:00 AM with the headline "Duke Energy moves forward on transmission lines."