Duke Energy expanding nuke location

Duke Energy is pressing ahead with another land grab that could nearly double the size of its proposed William States Lee III Nuclear Station site.

Duke Energy hired Charlottebased NAI Southern Real Estate to negotiate the land deals, said David Goode, a representative of the commercial real estate services company.

Goode said his company has been acquiring property for about a year and a half.

NAI Southern Real Estate has been purchasing properties on McKowns Mountain Road, not far from the proposed Waste Management landfill and recycling center site, according to Goode.

Some other properties located on White's and Darby roads also have been acquired for Duke Energy.

According to a letter of intent memo sent to one land owner, NAI Southern Real Estate offered $76,000 for a 2.07-acre tract that included the land owner's single-wide mobile home.

In this transaction, the letter of intent said that a $5,000 earnest money deposit would be placed in escrow with the title company within three business days of the purchase agreement signing. The money is non-refundable, but applicable to the purchase price at closing.

The seller is obligated to pay for normal deed preparation, but since the property isn't currently listed for sale with a broker, the seller would not receive a brokerage commission.

The land owner is allowed to remain on the property until May 1, 2010, the letter of intent said.

Goode said the purchase prices offered to land owners is probably a little more than the market value. According to a local real estate salesman with knowledge of the McKowns Mountain area, a 1-acre site was selling for about $6,000 prior to Duke Energy's interest in the property.

Goode said in some instances the purchase price includes the land owner's home. The land owner is then given the option to relocate the home, Goode said.

Goode said the reason Duke is acquiring additional property is to expand its proposed plant site. He declined to reveal the number of properties or the acreage Duke needs to expand the plant site. But a person with a limited knowledge of Duke's plans said it could be as many as 200 to 250 properties, totaling approximately 1,500 acres, almost doubling the size of Duke's existing 2,000-acre site.

The person said it appears Duke will use the property to increase the size of the existing lake on the site. The lake may be used for recreation as well as business, the person said.

By comparison, the Gaffney Board of Public Works-owned Lake Whelchel is approximately 160 acres.

Goode said he has no knowledge of Duke's plans for the property but has heard the recreational lake scenario from residents in the area.

Rita Sipe, spokesperson for Duke Energy, would not comment, citing company policy against giving details about possible land acquisitions.

She did add the project is still in the permitting stage.