HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0972IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES
MEETING WITH DUKE POWER REPRESENTATIVES
AND
REGULAR BRIEFING SESSION
DECEMBER 6, 2005
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met with Duke Power
representatives Dave Hart (District Manager/Government & Business Relations for
Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, and Iredell Counties) and Jeff Lineberger, P.E. (Manager
for Hydro Licensing/Charlotte office) in regards to the Catawba Wateree Relicensin¢
Proiect on Tuesday, December 6, 2005, at 4:30 P.M., in the Iredell County Government
Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC.
Present were:
Sara Haire Tice, Chairman
Vice Chairman Godfrey Williams
Steve Johnson
Marvin Norman
Ken Robertson
Staff present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Clerk to the Board Jean Moore,
Inspections/Planning Director Lynn Niblock, Planning Supervisor Steve Warren, and
Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Tice.
Hart distributed packets containing the following information: 1) Catawba-
Wateree Hydro Project Relicensing Update, 2) Question/Answer Sheet about the Water
Management Fund, 3) Draft Agreement -in -Principle on the Project, 4) North Carolina
Metro Advisory Group Roster, and 5) Brief Summary on Duke Power's Rights
Supporting a Proposal for Water Withdrawal Fees.
Lineberger said the relicensing was the single most important project since
Lake Norman was constructed almost 50 years ago. He said Duke Power owned the
reservoirs, but did not own the water. Lineberger said the project involved i 1 lakes
beginning with Lake James through Lake Wateree (S.C.), or over 200 river miles. He
said the Federal Energy Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) first licensed the
hydro project in 1958 for 50 years, even though most of the reservoirs were already
built. Lineberger said it took at least five years to fulfill the relicensing regulations and
FERC had to have on file an application in 2006. He then discussed key points about
the project some of which are as follows:
► 14 counties and 30 municipalities are involved
► 1.3 million people obtain their drinking water from the project area
► 130,000 average homes obtain their power from the project area
(under new license this number will decrease, est. 7% generation loss)
► Initial money to build the stations came from private investors -- no
federal funds were used
► 57 hydro generators in the project with 13 powerhouses to house them
► 6 stakeholder teams
► Main focus over last 10 years has been on recreation (improving motorboat
launching). In next 20 years, focus will shift to non -boating activities
(swimming, camping, hiking, etc.).
► $30 million is planned for future recreational facilities and about two-thirds
of the money will come from Duke Power. Remaining third to come
from "partners" for access area improvements.
► Much interest in the expansion of Lake Norman State Park (Crescent
Resources, a subsidiary of Duke Power, is discussing the expansion, or the
sale of property to the State.