Duke Won't Budge on Needmore Power Line, County Manager Tells Residents
Board of County Commissioners • Swain CountyJuly 21, 2026
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Needmore landowners asked Swain County commissioners to stand between them and Duke Energy's planned transmission line on July 21, 2026. They left with a blunt message: Duke picked the cheapest of seven routes, and only a court can change it. Commissioners also accepted a year-end report showing the general fund overspent by $4.4M, with the gap covered by an $8.6M revenue windfall.
Duke Energy will not reroute its Needmore line, the county manager says; litigation is residents' only stated path.
Five Needmore-area residents oppose the route, citing property values, a disputed right-of-way and the river.
General fund spending ran $4.4M over forecast; revenue beat projections by $8.6M.
Commission chair candidate and trout farm owner clash over a gated Cooper's Creek road.
Speakers challenge the injunction freezing Fontana Regional Library surplus payouts. Swain's share is about $86,000.
1 big thing: Duke Energy plans a new substation at the mouth of Needmore. The transmission line feeding it would run along Needmore Road and across the Needmore game lands. Residents spent much of public comment fighting it, but no commissioner moved to act.
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