Environmental and clean energy advocates warned the planned construction of a new gas power plant along the Yadkin River could cause great harm to the environment and ratepayers.

Duke Energy plans to build what is called a Combined Cycle Four natural gas power plant along the Yadkin.

Shelley Robbins, senior decarbonization manager for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, argued the new plant would create a host of problems, including construction disturbance, runoff and pollution from emissions. She believes two of the biggest problems would be water withdrawal and water return. A gas plant of the proposed size would need hundreds of thousands of gallons of cooling water each day to operate.

"What does that mean for water level? What does it mean for agriculture needs, especially in a drought?" Robbins asked. "That water is used for cooling. They would put water back in but it would be warmer. And it would just be different. It wouldn’t have its same biological characteristics."

Duke Energy has argued more energy production is needed as energy demands continue to rise and the Yadkin River offers a key water source for needed cooling.

Duke Energy officials have said two sites are under consideration for the proposed project, both along the Yadkin River, including one location in Davidson County and another in Davie County. Robbins emphasized a suite of clean energy alternatives are better to increase energy supply, like solar, wind power and battery storage.

"What Duke can invest in and what is a better deal, both for the environment and for ratepayers – if you consider what’s happening with the price of fossil fuels these days, how erratic it can be, depending upon what happens – would be solar," Robbins contended.

North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the country and estimates from Duke Energy suggested energy demand will increase by as much as 60% by 2040.

Source: Public News Service