Protesters chained to "superload generator" arrested

Greenville Sheriff’s Office deputies removed protesters who chained themselves to the massive Duke Enery generator, but demonstrators remain at the site of the “superload” off Highway 25.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office says that there are a dozen or so protestors at the site of where Duke Energy’s stator generator is to resume it’s slow trip to North Carolina Monday.

Melissa McKinney of the GCSO says two to four of the protesters have chained themselves to the top of the generator. Deputies are working to get those people down and make arrests.

Duke Energy spokesman Andy Thompson confirms the protest at the site. Mammoet, the company that is handling the transportation of the stator, notified local law enforcement.

The stator has been parked for a week off Highway 25 about two miles south of Interstate 85. The slow trip to North Carolina was halted a week ago because of wet weather and the Thanksgiving holiday.

The generator and trailer - which weigh a total of 1.5 million pounds and travels at about five miles an hour - is scheduled to resume the drive at 8:00 p.m. Monday. The stator will travel along Highway 25 and portions of Mills Avenue, Marue Drive, Washington Avenue, and White Horse Road.

Duke Energy’s plan is to travel throughout Monday evening and early Tuesday morning hours to a spot on Highway 25 just short of Highway 124.

On December 2, the stator will begin moving along Highway 25 towards Highway 11. Duke Energy expects to reach Cliffside by mid-December.

Update 11/30/09
On Monday starting at 6;00 p.m. the truck will travel U.S. Highway 25 (Augusta Road) to Mills Avenue, Marue Drive, Washington Avenue and ending up on White Horse Road.
The transporter will continue on White Horse Road, Highway 25 and finally Highway 11. Eventually the load will end up in Boiling Springs, NC.

Update 11/23/09
“The Stator,“ is stalled for a week. It’s parked off U.S. 25 in Greenville County, just a couple miles south of I-85. The generator is parked because of the wet weather and upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, according to Duke Energy. “The Stator,“ will pass through the city limits of Greenville at 5 mph will resume one week from Monday at 6:00 p.m.

Update 11/15/09

The Department Of Transportation says the generator is expected in Greenwood County some time tomorrow.

Saturday they hope that the generator will be at it’s destination.

They say the generator will stay there for a couple of weeks while maintenance is done and the permit is applied for for the next leg of the trip.

Update 9/28/09
An oversize load classified as a “superload” will be transported through South Carolina beginning September 18th and may impact local traffic in the following counties: Jasper, Hampton, Allendale, Barnwell, Aiken, Edgefield, Saluda, Greenwood, Laurens, Greenville, Spartanburg and Cherokee.

The load consists of a power generator and transport rig weighing 1.89 million pounds and will be transported on two multi-wheeled hydraulic trailers at a speed of between 5 mph and 20 mph. The total length of the load is approximately 300 feet.

The move is anticipated to take up to 30 days.

The mover has contacted emergency medical services, school districts, law enforcement and others who may be directly affected by the impact on traffic flow.

The load will move from the boat ramp located nearby Purrysburg, SC, to the North Carolina state line. Portions of the move will occur at night to avoid traffic.

The transport will go through the following towns and cities: Tillman, Tarboro and Pineland (Jasper County); Furman and Estill (Hampton County); Allendale, Seigling and Ulmer (Allendale County); Barnwell, Elko and Williston (Barnwell County); White Pond, Windsor, Montmorenci and Aiken (Aiken County); Johnston (Edgefield County); Saluda (Saluda County); Greenwood, Hodges and Ware Shoals (Greenwood County); Brewerton and Princeton (Laurens County); Ware Place, Greenville, Travelers Rest and

Gowansville (Greenville County); Campobello, Fingerville and Chesnee (Spartanburg County).

State law authorizes the SC Department of Transportation Oversize/Overweight Permit (OSOW) office, at its discretion, to issue permits for vehicles and loads that exceed legal size and/or weight limits. SCDOT defines “superload” as a load and transport with a combined weight of more than 130,000 pounds.

The superload will have a positive economic impact on the state due to the purchase of fuel, the hiring of engineering consultants, the purchase of hotel rooms and meals, the cartage fees paid to the Port of Charleston and numerous other impacts.