Shooting Creek Transmission Project Update
As Western North Carolina continues to grow, so too does the demand on our electrical grid. Expanding that infrastructure is essential, but how we expand matters just as much. During my recent Carolina Cruiser mobile office hours in Hayesville, I heard directly from residents whose homes lie within the proposed path of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Shooting Creek Transmission Project.
TVA has announced plans to build 7 to 9.5 miles of single-circuit transmission lines to serve Blue Ridge Mountain EMC’s proposed substation in the Shooting Creek area. Ninety alternative routes, consisting of 22 alternative segments for the path of the new transmission line, are currently under consideration.
I strongly support investments in transmission infrastructure because expanding Western North Carolina’s electric grid is essential to meeting growing demand and sustaining economic growth. Reliable domestic energy is not optional, but infrastructure expansion must be pursued responsibly. Property owners and established communities should not bear unnecessary disruption if reasonable alternatives exist.
Many Clay County residents have raised serious concerns about the number of homes affected by the current route segments. A central question has consistently surfaced: whether TVA has fully evaluated the feasibility of routing the line beneath Lake Chatuge to reduce property impacts.
TVA previously indicated that a submerged route was not considered due to recreational concerns and construction challenges. That explanation did not reassure many residents. When communities are asked to shoulder the burden of major infrastructure projects, they deserve transparency about how alternatives are studied, weighed, and ultimately evaluated.
For that reason, I authored a letter to TVA CEO Don Moul and Senior Vice President of Transmission Greg Henrich formally requesting a comprehensive analysis of a potential underwater route beneath Lake Chatuge. I am pleased that TVA has agreed to pursue the analysis.
The analysis will examine not only the costs associated with such a route but also the technical challenges of underwater installation, potential environmental impacts, and schedule considerations for meeting the reliability needs of Blue Ridge Mountain EMC. Additionally, TVA will assess how a submerged line could affect recreation and public use of the lake, as well as any implications for surrounding property owners.
Even if this option ultimately proves infeasible, a thorough evaluation will provide residents with the answers they deserve and strengthen public trust in the final decision.
I also met with TVA leadership to emphasize the importance of ensuring that the voices of those most affected by this project are not only heard but meaningfully considered. At my urging, TVA reopened the public comment period for this project after many residents expressed frustration that they were not given adequate notice during the initial comment period in December.
Energy security and community integrity are not competing priorities. We can modernize our grid while safeguarding the property rights and quality of life of Clay County families. That requires transparency, accountability, and a rigorous evaluation of all viable options.
As your Congressman, I will continue to insist on that standard.