Duke stops Spartanburg power line project after issues raised, reviewing other locations

Duke Energy has paused its planned 100-kilovolt Big Ferguson transmission line and substation in southwestern Spartanburg County after a series of letters from area lawmakers raised concerns.

"In response to questions and concerns by legislators and local residents, the company is conducting a review of the substation citing process to learn more and evaluate if there are other options," said Ryan Mosier, spokesman for Duke Energy. "We have paused the project as we work to complete this review by the end of February, and that includes postponing the open house that was scheduled for Feb. 21 in Woodruff."

Residents oppose power line locationHere's why residents oppose Duke Energy transmission line in southwestern Spartanburg County

At issue is Duke's proposed transmission line and substation at Greenpond Road and S.C. Highway 417 in the small community of Green Pond, about 4 miles northwest of Woodruff.

"Southwest Spartanburg County continues to experience rapid and residential and commercial development, and Duke Energy believes a project like Big Ferguson is needed to reliably meet this growing demand for residential and commercial customers," Mosier said.

But a number of residents, many of them with large tracts of farmland, are opposed to the project. They worry that the project will damage the rural and agricultural nature of that part of the county.

The proposed route would locate a substation at Green Pond, linked by power lines either at the Sock Hill substation on S.C. Highway 290, or linking to an existing de-energized line that runs north to south parallel to Old Spartanburg Road and U.S. Highway 221.

Duke held its first public meeting, an open house, on Sept. 20 at Bellview Baptist Church near Woodruff to explain why the project is needed and to take questions. A second open house was planned for Feb. 21.

State Sen. Shane Martin, state Rep. Bill Chumley and Spartanburg County Councilman Justin McCorkle all represent areas in southwestern Spartanburg County where the transmission line project is planned.

"My concern lies with siting a substation and related high-voltage transmission lines in the middle of a rural, agricultural area," Martin wrote to Lynn Good, chairwoman, president and CEO of Duke Energy. "My constituents and I prefer that Duke construct the infrastructure to address this growth on existing commercial or industrial sites and/or existing four-lane highways."

Good responded to Martin, saying she "take(s) your concerns seriously and is committed to working with the community on the proposed project.

"In response to your concerns, I asked my management team to conduct a complete review of the substation siting process, so we can learn more and evaluate if there are other options to meet this growing demand," Good said.

Chumley also suggested Duke find another location for the project.

"There must be alternative options for Duke within area industrial sites for the substation and along the four-lane highways and industrial corridors for the transmission lines," Chumley stated in a letter to Good.

McCorkle also suggested a different location.

"I along with the residents of this area are not opposed to growth and realize we are experiencing a major economic impact, so to speak," he wrote to Good. "However, the residents of the Green Pond area, as well as other rural areas, value their respective way of life. High-velocity transmission lines in this area seem very unfitting to the residents and the subsequent rural nature of the area."

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Duke pauses Spartanburg power line project after concerns raised