The N.C. Utilities Commission this afternoon resolved a long-simmering dispute over an electric utiltiy's plans to build a substation and transmission lines near a Cherokee holy site in Western North Carolina.
The commission closed the matter and reaffirmed Duke Energy's plans to build the substation and power lines. The matter became moot last year after Charlotte-based Duke found an alternate site, out of view from the sacred valley the Cherokees refer to as Kituwah.
However, the Utilities Commission was left with a challenge filed in 2010 by the Swain County Commission and by an ad-hoc group calling itself Citizens to Protect Kituwah Valley. The Commission said today the issue is resolved, but if those groups have still have concerns, "they will need to pursue that remedy in the appropriate court."
The Eastern Band of Cherokee had been alarmed by the proposed location of the original site, but the tribe had not challenged the project before the Utilities Commission. The tribe, numbering some 14,000 members in this state, approved of Duke's alternate site in Swain County, and the Utilities Commission approved Duke's $3.7 million project in June.
Kituwah, a valley near Bryson City, is the birthplace of the Cherokee nation, according to oral lore. Its significance and symbolism are comparable to that of the Garden of Eden.
John Murawski has been a full-time newspaper reporter since 1991, with stints at Legal Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy (both in Washington, DC), The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Palm Beach Post (in South Florida) before arriving at the N&O in December 2004. At the N&O he covers energy (nuclear, coal, renewable, efficiency), hydralic fracturing (or "fracking"), public utilities (both electric and natural gas) and health care. His beat includes Progress Energy, PSNC Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, PowerSecure International, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Biogen Idec and others. You can reach him at 919-829-8932 or
Comments
wonder what they will decide about alcoa
Wed, 12/28/2011 - 22:09 — saynotoalcoaOver in Stanly County Alcoa is trying to renew their lease of the Yadkin River. This video shows why it's not the best idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nON31p93aIc
I wonder what the utilities commission will decide about this one?
I was a white kid who grew up on the reservation
Wed, 12/28/2011 - 21:35 — warthendI can't bear to go back to Cherokee anymore because of all the commercial garbage (moccassin shops, bow&knife shops, turqoise jewelry, "get your picture with an Indian princess", the black bear zoo, etc.) that was/is sold by tribe members.
I would think the Bingo halls and their parking decks, hotels, convenience stores, etc. would also be considered a blight on the Reservation's beauty, which by the way need lots of electricity to generate the big checks all tribal members receive every year.
NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard?
Town vs historic site
Thu, 12/29/2011 - 09:46 — rob1977ncYou make a very good point about the tacky commercialism of the town of Cherokee, but do note that Kituwah is not actually in the town and somewhat removed from it. I wouldn't compare a commercial urban area to a quiet sacred historic & religious site. I'm glad they convinced Duke to avoid it.
A good analogy is that I grew up in Winston-Salem. If Duke proposed a substation next to Hanes Mall, no one would raise a fuss probably. But if they had proposed to plop it next to God's Acre in Old Salem you bet people would have made as much uproar--if not more--than the folks attempting to preserve Kituwah have.
Is there an editor?
Wed, 12/28/2011 - 20:16 — outhousecatIs there an editor at the N&O?
Why was a story about a drunk Hawaiin beating up a bunch of other Hawaiins in a bar in Hawaii given more coverage than this? I think the equivalent of the Garden of Eden deserves more press than a bar fight in a state 3000 miles from here.
Honolulu is more like 5000
Thu, 12/29/2011 - 00:58 — warthendHonolulu is more like 5000 miles from here. "Hawaiians" has three a's.
Editing, like charity, starts at home.