The Keowee hydro station began commercial operation on April 17, 1971. The Oconee Nuclear Site was completed and began operation in 1973, and has currently generated more electricity than any other site in the nation. Duke Energy's Oconee Nuclear Station is about each way from the towns of Salem to the north and Seneca to the south. Since it began operation, the station has generated more than 500 million megawatt-hours worth of electricity, the very first nuclear station in the country to achieve this. According to one estimate, it has a generating capacity of 2.6 million kilowatts of power, which is enough to power 1.9 million homes. In 2011, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed the site's license for an additional 20 years of service. There were concerns in 1996 that the utility along with numerous other utilities around the nation had been using improper methods during the refueling process, but investigation led to corrections as well as increased cooling capacity. Since Duke Energy built the lake and uses it regularly for power generation and cooling, it exerts considerable authority towards its operation. It has management responsibility for not just the lake, but for the shoreline around the lake including docks and walls, and is responsible for the land around the lake up to a specific elevation. While it has significant authority over the lake area, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission "looks over its shoulder" in such aspects as whether the lake is accessible by the public. Duke Energy is also Oconee county's largest taxpayer. Builders and developers and others often must have written permission from the energy utility before embarking on any significant changes around the lake. At the same time, Duke Energy cooperates with state and federal authorities to manage the area; for example, in the summer of 2011, energy officials conferred with the United States Army Corps of Engineers regarding matters such as lake levels and making changes to nuclear station pumps for added flexibility. In addition, the utility has sponsored clean-up drives to keep the lake free of litter and pollution, and has commissioned studies to monitor "recreation pressures on the lake". Residents who have bought homes along the lake or nearby formed an advocacy group named the "Friends Of Lake Keowee Society" or abbreviated as "FOLKS". It was established in 1993 to represent the interests of lake residents in terms of environmental and recreational issues, and have taken such initiatives as monitoring the lake's water quality and watershed. An "Island Keeper Program" is an effort to reduce litter. The advocacy group has brought pressure to block proposed developments; for example, developers seeking to build a multi-use facility in 2011 including a restaurant, store, lodge and fueling station, had to face FOLKS members in a public hearing to get community input.