1 year ago
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Alabama Power breaks down Steele reservoir project at public meeting
AFTERNOON? JOHN? WELL, GUY, THEY GOT AN OVERALL TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT. ALSO A VERY PRELIMINARY LOOK AT WHICH AREAS MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY THE POWER PRODUCING PROPOSAL AND JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, I WAS IN THERE, THAT ROOM WAS PACKED. TWO OTHER PEOPLE I SAW FOR THIS CHANDLER MOUNTAIN UPDATE ON THE PROJECT. THAT’S ABOUT 20% OF THE TEN OF STEELE’S TOTAL POPULATION. NOW, THE PROPOSAL WOULD CREATE DUAL WATER RESERVOIRS IN STEELE THAT OFFER A HYDROPOWER SOURCE FOR ALABAMA POWER COMPANY. ONE OF ITS REPRESENTATIVES SHOWED A 3D PRESENTATION OF WHERE THE FIVE DAMS WOULD BE BUILT AND WHICH AREAS WOULD BE FLOODED THAT THE UTILITY CLAIMS THE PROJECT COULD PRODUCE ENOUGH ENERGY FOR 400,000 HOMES TO LIVE OFF EVERY YEAR. BUT SOME RESIDENTS CLAIM THE DAMS AND FLOODING WILL FORCE DOZENS OF FAMILIES TO MOVE OUT. THE POWER COMPANY PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR FEARS. YOU’RE CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE FAMILIES DISPLACED OR BUSINESSES DISRUPTED, AND THOSE ARE REAL CONCERNS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. DOES DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD. THEY DID SAY TODAY, AGAIN, THAT THEY’VE NOT MADE THAT DECISION. THEY WOULD PROBABLY FILE THEIR LICENSE WITH FERC BY 2027. THAT LICENSE WOULD LIKELY NOT BE APPROVED UNTIL AT LEAST 2031. NOW, IF YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO GET OFF WORK TO COME TO THIS MEETING AT THE RAINBOW CITY COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. THERE’S A SECOND MEETING TONIGHT BETWEEN 6 AND 8 LIVE I
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Alabama Power breaks down Steele reservoir project at public meeting
Nearly two hundred people packed a community center to get the latest on Alabama Power Company's proposed pumped storage project.The Chandler Mountain Pumped Storage plan involves building upper and lower reservoirs with a series of five dams to create 1,600 mega watts of power.That's enough energy for 400,000 homes a year, the utility claims.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.At Monday's public meeting 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. Several 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.
RAINBOW CITY, Ala. —
Nearly two hundred people packed a community center to get the latest on Alabama Power Company's proposed pumped storage project.
The Chandler Mountain Pumped Storage plan involves building upper and lower reservoirs with a series of five dams to create 1,600 mega watts of power.
That's enough energy for 400,000 homes a year, the utility claims.
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.
At Monday's public meeting 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.
Several 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.
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