Alcoa Power Generating

These three projects have produced hydroelectric power and manage impoundments which also provide flood control; recreation, residential and business opportunities; and wildlife habitat.

The Narrows dam and powerhouse development is the only hydroelectric project listed on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina.

The original powerhouse site on the west side of the river was abandoned and the partially completed building was dismantled to its concrete foundations.

The Narrows Reservoir, commonly called Badin Lake, reaches a depth of 190 feet (58 m) and occupies 5,350 acres (2,170 ha).

Alcoa took "corrective measures", but a Duke University Environmental Law and Policy Clinic analysis found "wastes from former smelting and disposal activities at Alcoa Badin Works continue to pollute the groundwater, surface water, and soil in the Badin community and Yadkin River basin".

[15] In January 2011, Alcoa announced its commitment to spend $10 million to prepare the Badin Works site for redevelopment by demolishing buildings which would not be needed and making improvements to the facility.

[17] Clean Tech Silicon and Bar LLC also wanted to invest $300 million and create 450 direct and indirect jobs.

[19][20][21] In 2002, APGI began an extensive relicensing process[22] with four series of local public hearings held throughout the project area,[22][23][24][25] and 100 representatives of over 30 stakeholder groups from federal, state, and local governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations participating in Issue Advisory Groups and a lengthy settlement negotiation process.

[27] On May 7, 2007, APGI submitted a Relicensing Settlement Agreement which promised many benefits to the project area, signed by 23 stakeholders, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

[28] In January 2007, the Stanly County Commissioners announced they would oppose APGI's relicensing because they were worried the company would not be forced to clean up environmental problems remaining at the site and in the Yadkin, and because granting the license to another entity,[29] which would use the hydro-electricity created by the Yadkin River to create jobs, would better serve the public interest.

[35] In April 2009, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue issued a statement opposing APGI's relicensing and supporting legislation to establish a public trust to hold the license to use the Yadkin to generate hydro-electricity.

[37][38] A year later Republican Senator Fletcher Hartsell, again supporting establishing a "public trust", introduced a bill to create the Uwharrie Regional Commission.

[41] Subsequently, a Senate committee subpoenaed Vajda's documentary, sparking a debate over whether UNC-TV (which is owned by state government), was subject to 'public records' laws or whether it had a 'special exemption.'.

[45] Celebrity activist Erin Brockovich spoke for supporters of the Yadkin River Trust at a news conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In addition to the Relicensing Settlement Agreement signatories, APGI has gained the support, principally, of the N.C. Property Rights Coalition (which in June 2010 broadcast radio spots calling 'recapturing' Alcoa's license to control the Yadkin River a government takeover of private property); Rick Miller, President of the National Hydropower Association[50] and a local newspaper editorial board.

[51][52][53][54] According to a poll paid for by APGI and done by McLaughlin & Associates, North Carolina's citizens are predominantly against the state taking over the project.

"[61] APGI believed it would prevail because of a 2012 United States Supreme Court decision in favor of a Montana power company.

[62][63] On August 27, while asking attorneys questions that would help him determine whether to dismiss the 2013 lawsuit, Boyle accused North Carolina of acting like "a banana republic" and said the state was merely trying to punish Alcoa for taking away hundreds of jobs.

[68] As part of the relicensing process, 4700 acres, including 76 miles of shoreline on the Yadkin River, was being sold to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the LandTrust for Central North Carolina, on the condition that within five years they raise the $10 to $12 million to buy the land.

[69] In September 2019, phase one of what was called the Alcoa Lands Project was completed with the purchase of 2,463 acres and 45 miles of High Rock Lake shoreline for $7.7 million.

[74][75][76] In part, the certificate required APGI to make upgrades which would improve dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the dam releases.

[79] When the emails were made public DENR promptly revoked Alcoa's water quality certificate and, on December 2, 2010, Administrative Law Judge Fred Morrison Jr. suspended hearings.

"[81][82] APGI also released a study of dissolved oxygen levels leaving the Narrows and Falls reservoirs, where planned upgrades have been partially implemented.

[85] In a separate legal case, on May 3, 2011, a Federal Appeals Court in Washington, D.C. ruled against APGI, which had argued the state's actions were improper.

[87] In May 2015, administrative law judge Selina Brooks ruled that the Division of Water Quality did not have the right to deny a certificate and required a decision by the end of June.

[88] Most who attended a state Department of Environment and Natural Resources public hearing on July 1, 2015, opposed a new permit, while Yadkin Riverkeeper Will Scott wanted higher standards.

[91] but on October 28, Special Deputy Attorney General I. Faison Hicks asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to wait for a U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals lawsuit to be settled before making a decision about the 50-year license.

[94] TVA assists Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower in determining the daily operation levels of the Tapoco developments to best match expected flow releases from Fontana Dam, since TVA's Fontana Dam serves as the primary flow control facility for the lower Little Tennessee River area.

World War I increased the need for aluminum, and Southern Railway completed a railroad extension to the planned Cheoah Dam in 1916.

[10] Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners of Canada paid $600 million for the four dams, 86 miles of transmission lines, and 14,500 acres in 2012.