Notice2026-04267
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions
Primary source
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Published
March 4, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10599-10601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04267]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2740-053]
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for
Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for
Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms
and Conditions, and Prescriptions
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 2740-053.
c. Date Filed: July 14, 2025.
d. Applicant: Duke Energy Carolinas LLC (Duke Energy).
e. Name of Project: Bad Creek Pumped Storage Project (Bad Creek
Project).
f. Location: Adjacent to Lake Jocassee, Oconee County, South
Carolina.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Alan Stuart, Hydro Licensing Project Manager,
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, Mail Code DEP-35B, 525 South Tryon Street,
Charlotte, NC 28202; (980) 373-2079; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdaca1aca3e3beb9b8acbfb98da9b8a6a8e0f1aceda5bfa8abf0" http: energy.com">energy.com</a>">alan.stuart@duke-<a href="http://energy.com">energy.com</a></a>.
i. FERC Contact: Sarah Salazar at (202) 502-6863, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0a3b1a2b1b8fea3b1bcb1aab1a290b6b5a2b3feb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f08391829198de83919c918a9182b096958293de979f86">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions: April 28,
2026, by 5:00 p.m. (EST) (60 days from the issuance date of this
notice); reply comments are due June 12, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. (EST) (105
days from the issuance date of this notice).
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
motions to intervene and protests, comments, recommendations, terms and
conditions, and prescriptions using the Commission's eFiling system at
<a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx</a>. Commenters can submit
brief comments
[[Page 10600]]
up to 10,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment
system at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx</a>. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b4d4e594844656762656e587e7b7b64797f4b6d6e7968256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="63252631202c0d0f0a0d06301613130c111723050611004d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-
8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, you may submit a paper copy.
Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to:
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent
via any other carrier must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, MD 20852. All filings must clearly identify the project name
and docket number on the first page: Bad Creek Project (P-2740-053).
The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all
intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of
that document on each person on the official service list for the
project. Further, if an intervenor files comments or documents with the
Commission relating to the merits of an issue that may affect the
responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they must also serve
a copy of the document on that resource agency.
k. This application has been accepted for filing and is now ready
for environmental analysis.
l. Project Description: The existing Bad Creek Pumped Storage
Project includes: (1) a 363-acre upper reservoir with a storage
capacity of 35,513 acre-feet, of which 31,808 acre-feet is usable
storage capacity between minimum elevation 2,150 feet mean sea level
(msl) and full pond elevation of 2,310 feet msl; (2) a rockfill dam
across Bad Creek with crest elevation at 2,315 feet msl, 2,581 feet
long, and 360 feet high; (3) a rockfill dam across West Bad Creek with
crest elevation at 2,315 feet msl, 908 feet long and 170 feet high; (4)
a saddle dike across a natural depression on the eastern rim of the
reservoir with crest elevation at 2,313 feet msl, 960 feet long, and 90
feet high; (5) an ungated water intake structure in the upper
reservoir; (6) a power tunnel totaling 5,026 feet long and 29.53 feet
in diameter, connecting to four concrete, steel-lined penstocks about
386 feet long and varying from 13.78 to 8.43 feet in diameter; (7) an
underground powerhouse containing four reversible pump-generating
units, with a nameplate rating of 350,000 kilowatts each, for a total
generating capacity of 1,400 megawatts (MW); (8) four concrete-lined
draft tube tunnels about 316 feet long and 16.4 feet in diameter,
connecting to two concrete-lined tailrace tunnels about 875 feet long
and 24.61 feet in diameter; (9) an inlet/outlet structure equipped with
four 20-foot by 30-foot, steel lift gates, located in the existing Lake
Jocassee which serves as the lower reservoir; (10) transmission
facilities consisting of (a) generator leads connecting the powerhouse
to four above ground step-up transformers, (b) a 100-kV transmission
line extending about 9.25 miles from the Bad Creek switchyard to the
Jocassee switchyard, (c) a 525-kV transmission line extending about
9.25 miles from the Bad Creek switchyard to the Jocassee switchyard;
and (11) appurtenant facilities. The project also includes an existing
4.8-mile-long road that leads from the project entrance to the
powerhouse area near Lake Jocassee.
The project is an automated pumped storage plant where water is
regularly moved from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir during
generation, and from the lower reservoir back to the upper reservoir
during pumping. All water utilized for generation originates from the
7,980-acre lower reservoir (Lake Jocassee) which has a normal maximum
elevation of 1,110 feet msl and normal minimum elevation of 1,080 feet
msl. The project is licensed to operate on a weekly pump-storage cycle
with the upper reservoir fluctuating between 2,310 feet msl (normal
max. elevation) and 2,150 feet msl (normal min. elevation), resulting
in a maximum drawdown of 160 feet and 31,808 acre-feet useable storage
capacity. In practice, the project operates in a daily pump-storage
cycle by maintaining the upper reservoir above 2,250 feet msl for
approximately 97% of the time to maximize head and unit efficiency. The
average annual generation of the project is about 1,884,685 MWh. The
average annual energy required for pumping during the same period is
about 2,398,114 MWh. The net energy consumption of the project is
513,429 MWh.
Duke Energy proposes to continue to operate and maintain the
project as well as to construct, operate, and maintain a second
generating facility, the Bad Creek II Complex, which would consist of a
new: (1) upper reservoir inlet/outlet structure, (2) water conveyance
system; (3) underground powerhouse; (4) powerhouse access tunnels; (5)
lower reservoir inlet/outlet structure; (6) switchyard; (7) transformer
yard; and (8) transmission line. The proposed powerhouse would include
four new, reversible pump-turbine units with an installed generating
and pumping capacity between 106 MW and 425 MW. Average annual
generation would increase by up to 25,856 MWh. No modifications would
be made to the existing upper and lower reservoirs. Duke Energy
proposes a new project boundary that includes all lands necessary for
access, or control of, the expanded project.
m. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission's
website at <a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a>, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the
docket number, excluding the last three digits in the docket number
field, to access the document (i.e., P-2740). For assistance, please
contact FERC Online Support (see item j above).
n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene
in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure,
18 CFR 385.210, .211, and .214. In determining the appropriate action
to take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments
filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with
the Commission's Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any
comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on, or
before, the specified comment date for the particular application.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title
``PROTEST,'' ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,''
``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or ``PRESCRIPTIONS;''
(2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project
number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) furnish the
name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the
filing; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR
385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, recommendations, terms and
conditions or prescriptions must set forth their evidentiary basis and
otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may
obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of
any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each
representative of the applicant specified in the particular
application. A copy of all other filings in reference to this
application must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons
listed on the service list prepared by the Commission in this
proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 385.2010.
For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office
of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#df908f8f9fb9baadbcf1b8b0a9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7f302f2f3f191a0d1c51181009">[email protected]</span></a>.
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You may also register online at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx</a> to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, please
contact FERC Online Support (see item j above).
o. The applicant must file the following on or before 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Time April 28, 2026: (1) a copy of the water quality
certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, including
proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the request;
or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.
p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time March 30, 2026.
(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)
Dated: February 27, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-04267 Filed 3-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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