Alcoa relicensing agreement earns additional support

The Trading Ford Historical District Preservation Association is the latest organization to announce its support for Alcoa’s relicensing of its hydroelectric dams along the Yadkin River. The association formally endorsed the Relicensing Settlement Agreement in a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) earlier this month.

The relicensing agreement is now formally supported by 26 organizations, including North Carolina and South Carolina state agencies, local governments along the Yadkin River, environmental organizations, homeowner associations and recreational users.

“The relicensing of the Yadkin Project is in the best interests of cultural resources in the Yadkin Project area, and is beneficial to the public in Davie, Davidson, Montgomery, Rowan, and Stanly Counties,” reads a certificate signed by Ann Brownlee, president of the Trading Ford Historic District Preservation Association.

The Trading Ford Historical District Preservation Association has been an active participant in the relicensing process for nearly a decade. It joins Stanly County and Davidson County as groups that have formally added their names to the list of relicensing supporters this year.   

Relicensing supporters now include:

State and federal agencies, including the US Forest Service, the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, the SC Department of Health & Environmental Control, and the SC Department of Natural Resources.

Local governments along the Yadkin River, including the City of Albemarle, the Town of Badin and Davidson, Montgomery, Rowan and Stanly counties.

Environmental organizations, including American Rivers, the Land Trust for Central North Carolina, the Nature Conservancy (S.C. Chapter) and the S.C. Coastal Conservation League.

Local homeowners and recreational groups, including the Badin Lake Association, the High Rock Lake Association, the Piedmont Boat Club, and the Uwharrie Point Community Association.

Business organizations, including the High Rock Business Owners Group, the Pee Dee River Coalition, and the Salisbury/Rowan Association of Realtors.

Others supporters include the Catawba Indian Nation, Badin Historic Museum, and the Trading Ford Historical District Preservation Association. 

Signs of Progress: Alcoa, Stanly County Near Agreement

There are signs of progress in our ongoing conversations with Stanly County. On Monday, the Stanly County Commissioners reached consensus on an agreement with Alcoa and APGI that will resolve all outstanding issues surrounding our relicensing and related lawsuits and appeals. 

The Stanly County Commissioners will vote on the agreement on May 6 after it is finalized.

"Today is a great day for Stanly Co," Rep. Justin Burr tweeted on Monday. "Stanly Co & Alcoa have settled their differences and will begin working together again for our community."

"We believe this agreement is in the best interests of the citizens of Stanly County," chairman Gene McIntyre said in an interview with WSPC.

"From Alcoa's perspective, we're very pleased with the agreement we've come to today" said Kevin Anton, Alcoa's Chief Sustainability Officer. We'll continue working on that and look forward to further developing the Badin Business Park."

Read a related story in the Stanly News & Press: Stanly County, Alcoa close to deal.

Lexington Dispatch: County signs settlement agreement

Davidson County Commissioner Fred McClure joined me in Lexington last week to officially sign the Relicensing Settlement Agreement on behalf of Davidson County.

The county is the latest organization to signal their support for Alcoa to receive a new license for the Yadkin Project. More than 20 organizations, including state and federal agencies, local governments, environmental groups, and homeowners previously signed the relicensing agreement.

"We just realized we needed to have the partnership with Alcoa," McClure told the Lexington Dispatch.

Click here to read the Lexington Dispatch story.