Duke Energy is moving ahead with plans to replace a coal-fired plant in Skyland, near Asheville, with a new plant that will burn natural gas. If approved by the N.C. Utilities Commission, the new 600-megawatt plant will be located on the site of the 376-megawatt coal-fired facility that first opened in 1964.

As part of the project, Duke is considering a new 45-mile transmission line from the vicinity of the new plant to a new substation to be cited across the state line in Campobello, Spartanburg County, S.C. If pursued, that project also would need approval from the state utilities commission.