Big money to bolster Oconee land conservation

Oconee has a conservation bank board, but its problem has been money–the lack of it. That will change next week when Duke Energy makes good on a commitment to donate $618 thousand dollars.  Duke’s Alan Stuart next week will present the check during a meeting of the board at 9 o’clock Tuesday morning in County Council Chambers.  According to Shea Airey, board chairman, the bank board is interested in acquiring Oconee properties to protect them from development, but it takes money.