LOCAL TOURISM AUTHORITY OPPOSES DUKE TRANSMISSION LINE
HENDERSON COUNTY’S TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THIS WEEK JOINED A GROWING LIST OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES WITH STRONG OPPOSITION TO DUKE ENERGY’S PROPOSED NEW 40 MILE LONG HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE THROUGH THE WESTERN CAROLINAS. THE AUTHORITY’S BOARD SENT LETTER OF OPPOSITION STATING THEIR OPPOSITION:
The letter states:
Tourism is extremely important to Henderson County. Our most recent data indicates that:
• Over 2100 jobs are attributed to the tourism industry in our county.
• $20.9 million in state and local tax receipts are due to tourism in our county.
• Tourism taxes create $191.16 in property tax savings on average for each county resident.
• Our Visitor Center Guest Book contains signatures by visitors to our beautiful county from at least 45 states and 22 countries since January 2015.
• Henderson County is 70th in size of all 100 counties in North Carolina, but we are 15th in the amount of money expended by tourists while in our county.
Henderson County TDA hired a consultant to conduct a tourism research study several years ago and it revealed that visitors’ No. 1 reason for coming to Hendersonville is to enjoy the unspoiled scenic mountain views and outdoor recreational activities in the area’s mountains, forests, creeks and rivers. Camps are also make a huge positive impact on the economy.
Enormous transmission line towers scattered throughout the countryside are not attractive to tourists and detract from their experience. We are especially concerned about our county’s scenic overlooks such as Jump Off Rock and the top of Bearwallow Mountain. Transmission towers will ruin the scenic vistas seen from these important tourist areas.
Tourists travel all parts of our county. In addition to Interstate 26, Highway 64 on the east side of 1- 26 transports tourists arriving from the Eastern part of the state, via Interstate 40 and Highway 9, through scenic apple orchards and mountain views. Highway 64 on the west side of 1-26 transports visitors to our charming downtown Hendersonville, and through to DuPont State Recreational Forest or Pisgah National Forest.
We promote scenic driving tours through local orchards in various parts of the county that grow the most apples in North Carolina. Our county’ vineyards/breweries attract tourists to their rural locations to enjoy both their products and their beautiful scenic surroundings.
Because of the great damage unsightly transmission line towers would do to our county’s scenic beauty, we believe that Duke Energy should re-evaluate the need for these lines, and if they are needed should avoid damage to the local economy by burying them under ground.
–David Nicholson, HCTDA Chairman
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