By Jesse Wood
Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation recently purchased roughly 37 acres near Food Lion on U.S. 421 for $800,000, according to records with the Watauga County Register of Deeds.
BREMCO spokesperson Renee Whitener said that the property is located on the southside of U.S. 421 across from the grocery store. It’s not clear yet how much of the land is set aside for the purpose of the substation. The property was purchased from Sylvia Bingham Hicks, according to deeds.
“This Watauga County property will be used for a future substation to improve service and ensure continued reliable electric service,” Whitener said on Thursday.
She said that preliminary work will begin next year, but the substation won’t actually be built until several years from now.
“It is part of the cooperative’s ongoing planning and work to ensure systems are in place to meet our members needs for reliable, safe, affordable electricity,” Whitener added.
Last summer, BREMCO upgraded its Oak Grove transmission line between U.S. 421 and N.C. 105. That line was built in the ‘50s and before the upgrade began Whitener said that ‘it’s time to modernize to ensure the best reliability’ of electric service in Western Watauga.
