Duke prepares to dredge at Dillsboro Dam [video]
Despite Jackson County’s announced intent to seize Duke Energy’s Dillsboro property – including the Dillsboro Dam and powerhouse – to create a park along the river, the power company is moving ahead with required dredging upstream of the dam. Duke intends to remove the dam and open up a section of the river as mitigation for its larger hydroelectric plants, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued an order for the dam’s demolition.
Jackson County commissioners oppose dismantling the dam and are seeking to thwart the power company’s plans through appeals and lawsuits. The county’s latest strategy is to try and take Duke’s Dillsboro property through eminent domain in order to preserve the dam.
Duke officials, however, don’t think the county will be able to condemn the dam.
“We don’t believe existing law would support condemnation,” said Duke spokesman Andy Thompson. “We don’t believe the effort to condemn the dam will be successful.
In the video below, Thompson and Hugh Barwick, project manager for Dillsboro Dam demolition, explain the procedure by which the power company will remove some 70,000 cubic yards of sediment from behind the almost 100-year-old dam. Also pictured is Fred Alexander, Duke’s district manager for government and business relations.
Thompson is the first speaker, followed by Barwick.
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- Duke could begin Dillsboro Dam demolition next week One week after the demolition of the Dillsboro powerhouse, Duke...
- Duke wins in court; county ordered to issue permits Jackson County last week suffered another defeat in its ongoing...
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