To the editor:

 

Guilty as Charged: Duke Energy to pay $102 million after pleading guilty to years of illegal pollution, ignored warnings and poorly maintained infrastructure – a direct result of the massive 2014 coal ash spill into the Dan River. That was the headline running through my head Tuesday night in Tryon as Craig DeBrew of Duke Energy extolled the environmental benefits of the new natural gas plant that will replace the Lake Julian coal ash plant in Asheville.

 

Duke has a long history of environmental crimes and we are naïve to think that any amount of fines will cause them to begin to do the right thing. They will not do the right thing when it comes to the proposed transmission lines either. They don’t care about our community, our environment or our opposition.

 

That was crystal clear Tuesday night as Mr. DeBrew outlined the factors that would be considered when choosing their route. He cited factors such as schools and churches, but stated that only after the route was chosen would Duke consider an environmental impact study. Who would do the environmental impact study is unclear as is why this is the last step in the process.

 

Duke has not satisfactorily proven the need for the new transmission lines. Mr. DeBrew repeatedly mentioned having to bring in extra power for one hot day in 2014, but one hot day does not justify the mess they will make of our landscape. Duke’s claim that electricity use is on the rise is simply not true.

 

We have little recourse. Our communities have passed resolutions and our environmental organizations have written letters, but the ultimate decision lies with the North Carolina Utilities Commission. This governmental body has the authority to approve this project and it is imperative that all citizens write to them and the Public Staff, an independent agency charged with representing the public in matters before the Commission, to express their opposition. It is my hope that with enough written opposition, the Utilities Commission will demand definitive proof of the need for the lines and force Duke to do the right thing if the need is justified.

 

Please write your opposition to:

Ed Finley

Chairman

NC Utilities Commission

4325 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-4300

Email:

finley@ncuc.net

 

The Public Staff of the Utilities Commission

Consumer Services Division

4326 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-4326

EMail:

Consumer.Services@psncuc.nc.gov

 

Tricia Kennedy

Mill Spring, N.C.