S.C. lawmakers ponder future power in Palmetto State
COLUMBIA, S.C. - A group of South Carolina lawmakers is focusing in on an issue they say is critical to the state’s future: how to ensure it’ll be able to keep the lights on and keep up with booming growth.
Earlier this year, senators let a massive energy reform bill from the House of Representatives stall out – saying they needed more time to vet such a crucial issue to South Carolina’s future.
That work started Thursday – when a new Senate committee focused on this issue met for the first time.
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“You have a critical task before you and one that does have some urgency to it,” Duke Energy SC President Mike Callahan told the lawmakers.
The also heard from the leaders of Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy.
All three utilities testify their projected energy growth is quickly suring where they forecast it would be just a few years ago — and say they won’t be able to power all their expected needs without new generation.
“We are at a critical point in planning for our state’s reliable energy future. Duke Energy needs to build and enable large amounts of generation quickly to keep up with the success our state is seeing in economic development and growth,” Callahan said.
To address their energy needs, Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy want to team up – o build a natural gas plant at a former coal plant site in Colleton County.
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State-owned Santee Cooper needs lawmakers’ blessing to proceed with the plan.
“The reason that we think partnering together to do that is, it’s proven technology, it will enable us to save up to 30% of the costs, and those are savings that both Santee Cooper and Dominion will be able to on to our customers,” said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper president.
But underscoring that project – and the larger discussion into energy in South Carolina – is the VC Summer debacle.
The multibillion-dollar failure less than a decade ago of the nuclear project north of Columbia – between Santee Cooper and Dominion’s predecessor, SCE&G – has left many, including at the State House, skeptical.
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“We’ve got to get to a place, I think where y’all can get the investment that you need to do what you need to do to supply South Carolina now and in the future. but I think we’ve got to get to a place where and I don’t think I’m the only one that we trust utilities to do the things that they need to do and that we’re gonna have sufficient guard rails in place to look over your shoulder,” said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield.
“You’re exactly right. We gotta prove it. You gotta earn that trust and that’s what we need to do,” said Keller Kissam Dominion South Carolina president.
Senators say they expect to meet several more times over the coming months – to hear from others including environmental groups and energy experts.
They hope to have some sort of legislation ready to propose – by the time the full General Assembly returns to Columbia in January.
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