The Macon County Planning Board voted unanimously to send back a request by the Macon County Board of Commissioners to review the feasibility of removing Lake Emory Dam.
Following a somewhat contentious discussion over the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (see related article this edition, page X), the Planning Board quickly dispensed with this new business item on Jan. 2. Chair Jean Owen and the other six members that were present agreed that the parameters of a study would be outside their technical expertise on such a “complicated” issue, in the words of board members and Town of Highlands representative Michael Matthis. The board instead recommended that the commissioners hire a third party to conduct a study and then return the findings to the board for discussion and recommendation.
Planning board member Marty Kimsey said, “I’ve got an open mind about whether or not to do it … You go back to the early 1900s when it was built. I’d prefer to see a free-flowing river there and not have that [dam], but the people of Franklin at that time probably wanted some electricity and they were glad to see it.”
Kimsey cautioned there would be many issues related to addressing sediment that would move downstream without the dam in place and noted that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would need to be engaged with any decisions. Additionally, he pointed out that the county would have to consider costs and wetland protections if it were to proceed with this project.
“You’ve got tons and tons of issues to go through … but how do you prevent sediment from going downstream,” queried Kimsey.
Vice Chair Lee Walters concurred with Kimsey and suggested the commissioners do a limited scope study, “not a full-fledged study,” to help rein in costs, as an overly broad, comprehensive study could quickly spiral.
“It would be great to have the river restored back to its original conditions…,” he said, “but if leaving it the way it is doesn’t cost a dime, [are] there residual problems that are going to grow as a result of not doing anything?”
Owen explained that the commissioners, not the planning board, had oversight of appropriating funds for a study of this type.
“The first phone call needs to be made to the company that owns it and asking, ‘Hey, would you consider selling it?’” said Owen.
Taking up the challenge of finding out what the dam’s owners thought of this proposal, Chris Sinclair, vice president of business development, was contacted to discuss how Northbrook Carolina Hydro II LLC, which runs North Carolina operations for parent company Northbrook Energy, might engage on this proposal.
This interview has been condensed for space and edited for grammar.
Macon Sense: Is Northbrook interested in partnering with Macon County to conduct a feasibility study on dam removal?
Sinclair: Northbrook Carolina Hydro, II LLC (Northbrook Carolina) recognizes the importance of the Franklin dam’s role in providing reliable, baseload, renewable energy to the local community. Northbrook Carolina is excited at the opportunity to continue to supply this power responsibly, safely, and efficiently. Although Northbrook Carolina does not have a desire to explore dam removal, it could provide basic information to the commissioners’ consultants on a confidential basis.
Macon Sense: How does Northbrook currently coordinate with Macon County and the State of North Carolina on water quality testing in Lake Emory and dam infrastructural maintenance?
Sinclair: Most aspects of the Franklin dam are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under a comprehensive federal license, rather than at the state or local level. The Franklin dam is professionally managed under an inclusive Dam Safety Program and regularly inspected by the FERC’s dam safety engineers for ensuring safety of the dam. FERC would have to review and approve any acquisition of the installation by Macon County.
Macon Sense: Would Northbrook be willing to sell the dam to the county if the study recommended dam removal?
Sinclair: Northbrook Carolina’s owners have experience divesting hydro assets when the economic arrangement makes sense. The Franklin hydro project also has obligations to the local power grid, the FERC, and providing power to Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC).
Macon Sense: How much energy does the dam produce annually? Is that an increase or decrease since the dam was turned over by DEC to Northbrook in 2019?
Sinclair: The Franklin hydro station has been providing reliable power to the community for almost 100 years. The hydroelectricity can provide low-cost power to one in six homes in Franklin. Northbrook Carolina’s operations strategy coupled with recent good water years has resulted in average energy production being two times the average annual production over the prior 30 years.
Macon Sense: Is DEC still the main consumer?
Sinclair: The Franklin hydro facility currently provides power to Duke Energy Carolinas under a two-year contract.
Macon Sense: Is Northbrook considering any third party offers for sale at this time?
Sinclair: No.
Macon Sense: Could you explain the benefits of the dam remaining in place and any plans for future improvements?
Sinclair: Hydroelectricity means clean and cheap energy. It improves the air we breathe as it doesn’t push pollutants into the air. It is sustainable and creates recreational benefits both upstream and downstream of the dam. Under Northbrook Carolina’s asset management and dam safety programs, Franklin can continue to provide all of these unique benefits for the foreseeable future.