- Utility to construct a new substation and 14-mile transmission line from Grants Creek to Jacksonville
- Community open house on the project to be held Sept. 17 in Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - As part of its ongoing commitment to providing reliable service to a growing region, Duke Energy Progress has announced plans to construct a new transmission line to serve the Jacksonville area.
"We must invest in the electric system to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of this growing region," said Billy Harrell, project manager for the new transmission line and substation. "This new transmission line will provide greater capacity and enhanced service reliability for Jacksonville and across Eastern North Carolina."
The utility's $37 million investment includes construction of a 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between its existing Jacksonville substation, located off of Gum Branch Road, and a future Grants Creek substation adjacent to Old 30 Road. The line will be approximately 14 miles long. Construction is expected to begin in late 2017 and is targeted for completion in July 2020.
Duke Energy Progress is currently evaluating a number of potential routes for construction of the transmission line, and is seeking input from the public. Property owners along the various alternate routes have been notified by letter and provided opportunities for input in this process.
The public is also invited to attend a community open house to learn more about the project and provide input on the route selection.
Jacksonville Transmission Project Community Open House
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015 | 4-7 p.m.
Jacksonville Conference Center
800 New Bridge Street
Jacksonville, N.C.
During the open house, Duke Energy representatives will provide information on the project, aerial maps of the proposed route options, and an estimated timeline for the project. Once the public input and review process is complete, a final route will be selected in January 2016.
"Our goal is to minimize impacts to homes and businesses, the environment and cultural resources as we work to determine the final route," said Harrell. "We also want to address the questions and concerns of potentially affected property owners and are committed to communicating with the public throughout the process."
Additional information on the project is available beginning Sept. 17 at duke-energy.com/about-us/electric-transmission-projects.asp. Members of the public may also email questions and comments to CarolinasTransmissionEnhancements@duke-energy.com or call 800.365.8979.
About Duke Energy Progress
Duke Energy Progress owns nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides about 12,000 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.5 million customers in a 32,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.