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Messer wants board to oppose power line route

Henderson County Commissioner Charlie Messer said he asked board Chairman Tommy Thompson to put the proposed Duke Engery transmission line on the board agenda on Tuesday, Sept. 8.


“My goal right now is to defeat (segment) 17B,” said Messer, who owns Charlies on the Creek convenience store in Hoopers Creek. “I don’t think it should go through any residential areas. That would be a direct hit on my daughter and son-in-law and grandkids and my customers. I don’t know why they don’t go up I-26. That would be the shortest route and the least expensive. You can tell those maps were made by people that didn’t know anything about Western North Carolina.”
Messer said he wants the Board of Commissioners to adopt a resolution opposing any transmission line route that goes through residential areas. Messer’s made the comments on Monday, a few hours before an overflow crowd attended a specially called Fletcher Town Council meeting to hear comments on the power line. The town board unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the line, saying it would harm summer camps, farming and steep mountain views and negatively affect wildlife including bats and bears in caves, red tail hawks and migratory birds.