Needmore Residents Press Swain to Challenge Duke Energy's Line Route
Board of County Commissioners • Swain CountyAugust 18, 2026
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Needmore Road landowners and their allies dominated public comment at the Swain County Board of County Commissioners' Aug. 18, 2026, meeting. They asked the county to have its attorney test Duke Energy's claimed right-of-way and to push the utility toward a US 74 route. The board took no action on those requests. Its only recorded decision was a unanimous show-of-hands vote approving a $60,000 contract to put roughly $1 million in opioid settlement money to work, while residents and one commissioner kept pressure on sheriff's office spending and the county budget.
- Nine public commenters urged the county to seek legal review of Duke's Needmore right-of-way and push a US 74 reroute
- $60,000, 12-month sole-source contract with 10Biz approved unanimously to launch opioid settlement programs
- Residents defended deputies' conference travel while a commissioner questioned about $217,000 in jail vending revenue
- Commissioner presses on unfilled fire positions, untracked project labor and a $5M transfer
1 big thing: Most public commenters returned from last month's meeting with one demand. They want Duke Energy's planned transmission line moved off Needmore Road and the Needmore Game Lands, and they want the county attorney to examine Duke's legal footing.
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