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North Carolina Water Resources are not in Jeopardy
North Carolina’s water resources are not in jeopardy as a result of relicensing —and never have been.
Fact: Hydro Operations Do Not Consume Water from the Yadkin River
Our hydropower operations do not consume or redirect water from the Yadkin River. The water simply passes through our turbines to generate clean, renewable energy, which offsets the need for additional carbon-based energy sources. APGI’s ownership of the property along the Yadkin River allows for this reasonable use of the water.
Fact: Alcoa Earns Praise for Drought Management
Our management of the water supply during the ongoing drought has earned praise from State agencies, local homeowners associations and South Carolina users. It is one example of how we are working with stakeholders to find solutions and protect the water supply during periods of scarcity.
The new license will include a drought management plan that protects North Carolina’s water supply by requiring APGI to send less water downstream and reduce hydropower generation during times of drought. This agreement was negotiated between state agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina, local homeowners and recreational users, and industrial users who rely on water resources.
APGI has voluntarily adopted many of the plan’s elements during the current drought with tremendous success. By working closely with North Carolina state agencies and others, APGI has kept water levels at our reservoirs along the Yadkin River well above their historical averages throughout this prolonged drought. All reservoirs in the Yadkin Project are currently within 18 inches of full.
Fact: FERC Process for Water Withdrawals
FERC has approved procedures that provide for new water withdrawals and other measures that may be deemed appropriate. These procedures, developed in concert with North Carolina agencies, will not change as a result of the relicensing process.
During the past 50 years, three new water withdrawals were approved at the Yadkin Project. APGI successfully worked with two municipalities and one irrigation user to provide new withdrawal intakes from the Yadkin River. In addition, APGI worked with one municipality that needed to increase its water withdrawal amounts over time.
Click here for more details about water withdrawal procedures.
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