Proposed project could flood dozens of farms and homes

The Steele community continues to join together to an oppose a proposed hydro power plant on Chandler Mountain.Tuesday night, a group called Save Chandler Mountain hosted a workshop at the Steele Community Center.Their goal was to help as many residents as possible voice their opinions with federal regulators."It's a little intimidating, the FERC comment situation. So I think will help people that don't have a lot of computer skills or that just want to send it online," Save Chandler Mountain President Fran Summerlin said.The community has until Saturday to file their comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.Alabama Power Company's proposed pumped storage project involves building upper and lower reservoirs with a series of five dams to create 1,600 megawatts of power. That's enough energy for 400,000 homes a year, the utility claims.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WVTM 13 Many residents fear the the 1,600 acres the reservoirs would flood and the construction of the dams would displace more than a dozen families in the town about 1,000 people.Tuesday we visited Charles Abercrombie on his land in the Rocky Hollow community.Land which his family purchased in 1896. It is located in where the lower planned reservoir would sit; meaning his current home would be under 150 feet of water, if Alabama Power's proposed project goes through.That's why he is hoping his neighbors make enough noise with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission."We are in a war. We're in a battle. Oh, but it ain't a battle we can't win. Everybody says you can't fight somebody big. Well, I disagree. I got a spy in the sky and his name's God," Abercrombie said.At Monday's public meeting last month at the Rainbow City Community Center, an Alabama Power Company representative acknowledged the residents' concerns and pointed out it could be another eight years before they receive a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeSeveral homeowners expressed frustration about lower property values and displaced neighbors.One asked the Alabama Power representative if Steele was the only location the utility was considering and if the power would be used in Alabama or whether it would be sold out of state.There was n0 response from Alabama Power.