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Duke Energy launches routing study and public engagement for Needmore Road substation
Summary
Duke Energy representatives presented plans for a new Almond Substation at the mouth of Needmore Road and a proposed transmission tie line across Needmore Game Lands; company will begin landowner outreach and an open house as the first step of routing and permitting.
Duke Energy told Swain County commissioners it will begin public engagement and a routing study for a proposed Almond Substation at the mouth of Needmore Road and a new transmission tie line across Needmore Game Lands.
The company presented a study area and preliminary site concept and said the effort is an early-stage step that does not start construction but aims to identify potential routes and collect public feedback.
Why it matters: the substation and tie line would change the electric-transmission footprint in parts of Swain County that include public game lands and hundreds of private parcels; routing choices can affect landowners, environmental resources and viewshed/aesthetic concerns.
Project details: Lisa Leatherman, identified at the meeting as Duke Energy—s presenter, said the Almond Substation site (referred to as Site H in Duke materials) would contain step-down transformers in a two-bank or three-bank arrangement and would supply circuits toward Bridal City, the gorge and Stookoa in Graham County. She told commissioners Duke owns the planned substation property and that the routing study covers a study area of roughly 4,445 acres with 493 parcels and 346 unique owners using county parcel data.
Leatherman said Duke will begin outreach in mid-July, mailing an introductory letter to the roughly 493 landowners in the study area, followed by an open house (the presenter named a Nantee Hollow Village Resort location) and a questionnaire for written feedback. Duke will compare alternative transmission routes using criteria including land use, environmental and cultural resources, and aesthetics. She said permitting would follow selection of a preferred route and that Duke would return to county officials to comply with local ordinances before any construction.
Board direction and next steps: county staff told the company they will review the county—s ordinances for utilities and suggested setting a county public hearing before the July work session so residents can address commissioners. Leatherman said she would return to the county on July 1, and Duke will continue direct outreach to landowners in the study area.
Actions: the meeting included a request for public engagement and a routing study; no construction permits or approvals were granted at the meeting. County staff and Duke agreed to additional briefings for commissioners and to a public hearing as needed under county rules.
