Duke Energy to argue for longer Catawba River license

A federal agency will let Duke Energy argue for a 10-year addition to its hydroelectric license to manage the Catawba River.

Duke had committed in public negotiations over the license to sweeten its conservation spending if it won a 50-year license.

The company would double the $3 million it will donate to state agencies to buy land for conservation, and add easements on 274 acres to the 2,455 acres it will protect.

Those commitments aren’t included in the 40-year license the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted in November.

FERC bases license terms on how much money and infrastructure upgrades utilities are required to do. The commission judged Duke’s work on the Catawba to be of moderate scope that did not merit a longer term.

Duke argued in response that other utilities had been granted longer license terms for smaller investments.

Duke will spend $154 million on new construction for environmental and recreational measures. Annual operating and maintenance costs for the upgrades will total more than $25 million.

FERC on Tuesday allowed a limited rehearing to reconsider Duke’s arguments.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 12:42 PM with the headline "Duke Energy to argue for longer Catawba River license."