Duke Energy’s Equipment move Progressing

Duke Energy is moving the first of three 700,000-pound transformers to the Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station today. Duke Energy’s South Carolina Nuclear Communications Manager Chris Rimel gives details on the transfer process. “It’s slowly making its 33-mile journey up the Bad Creek Project. Right now I’m with it just south of Walhalla, we’re about to enter the south entrance of the city. Very helpful folks on the way, a lot of thumbs up, raising the traffic signals in Walhalla, so we can get this transformer where we need to.” The transformers are being hauled by truck from West Union to Bad Creek in Salem. During these heavy equipment moves, traffic on highways 107 and 28 to Cashiers, N.C., will encounter lengthy delays. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes. The three new transformers set the stage for upgrades at Bad Creek Pumped Storage Facility, adds Rimel. “Bad Creek is our Pump Storage Project, what we call the battery in the mountains in the northern part of Pickens County. We are going to have an up-rate next year of 100 megawatts and these three separate moves, the first of which is today, help with the establishment of the generation there. There generators that are going to be set in a lay down area near the Bad Creek Project and that is going to be done in probably 6-7 hours from now.” It will take two days to move each transformer and all moves are scheduled between the hours of 9am and 6pm.