Bad Creek license renewal sought by Duke Energy

Duke Energy has started two days of environmental site reviews of its Bad Creek hydro-electric station in northern Oconee County.  The utility hopes to gain a 50-year extension of its federal license to continue to make hydro-power using the energy of moving water.  Built within a blue granite mountain eight miles north of Salem, Duke refers to the hydro station’s 600-foot deep powerhouse as an engineering marvel finished in 1991.  In yesterday’s virtual-style meeting, the company explained the benefit of hydro facilities as an energy source than can quickly go from generating energy that meets sudden changes in demand.  Hydro accounts for eight percent of the power generated by Duke in the Carolinas.