Clay County Commissioners Pass Resolution Opposing TVA/BRMEMC Transmission Line Project

Mountain Buzz
Dec 8
2 min read

The Clay County Board of Commissioners passed a Resolution Opposing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation (BRMEMC) Proposed Transmission Line Project in Clay County, North Carolina.

The resolution was APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND ADOPTED this 4th day of December 2025.

Key Reasons for Opposition

The resolution outlines several "WHEREAS" clauses detailing the reasons for the board's strong opposition:

Inconsistency with Local Planning: The proposed routes do not comply with the Clay County Comprehensive Plan.
Property Rights and Eminent Domain: The project requires new rights-of-way (ROW) and easements, raising concerns about infringement on private property rights, potential eminent domain proceedings, and long-term restrictions that could devalue properties.
Cultural and Historical Impact: Portions of the routes may impact documented archaeological sites, Native American habitation areas, historic Cherokee trails, and burial grounds, risking "irreversible damage to or destruction of irreplaceable cultural artifacts."
Environmental Risks: The project poses "potential environmental risks," including habitat disruption for local wildlife, soil erosion, water quality impacts (especially to the Hiwassee River watershed), and the spread of invasive species.
Aesthetic and Economic Concerns: The "tall transmission structures and cleared ROWs would irreparably scar this landscape," diminishing the "aesthetic value of the county and threatening the preservation of its unique natural heritage" crucial for the local tourism economy.
Insufficient Need: The proposed infrastructure is deemed "oversized for the actual needs of Clay County" and future projections, potentially leading to "unnecessary rate increases for ratepayers."
Inadequate Public Engagement: The notification and public comment period were criticized as limited, with minimal advance notice, and insufficient time for "meaningful community engagement," especially being held during the Holiday Season.

The Board's Demands (The "BE IT RESOLVED" Clauses)

The resolution calls for the following actions:

Strong Opposition: Expresses strong opposition to the TVA and BRMEMC proposed transmission line project in its current form based on procedural, environmental, aesthetic, and economic concerns.
Extend Public Comment: Calls on TVA and BRMEMC to extend the public comment period for a minimum of 90 days beyond the original deadline of January 5, 2026, with enhanced notice efforts.
Comprehensive Re-evaluation: Urges TVA and BRMEMC to conduct a comprehensive re-evaluation, prioritizing the use of existing ROWs and easements and scaling down the capacity based on evidence-based demand analyses.
NEPA Review: Demands that any future project iterations undergo a full National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, including an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Collaborative Redesign: Encourages collaboration with local stakeholders and affected residents to co-develop a revised project plan that "balances reliable and added energy service with the preservation of our county's irreplaceable natural beauty and rural character."
Distribution: Copies of the resolution are to be forwarded to TVA, BRMEMC, the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and relevant state and federal elected representatives.