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News from the Statehouse
Simultaneous energy-related hearings in the House and Senate kept us busy last Wednesday. On the House side, the LCI Public Utilities Subcommittee continued to hear testimony on the SC Energy Security Act (H.3309), announcing they would be considering amendments to the bill in the following week.
Over the past year of hearings on this bill, we have seen the narrative shift from one where residential growth drives the need for additional energy generation to one where data centers and new industries drive energy demand. At the center is the proposed endorsement of a joint agreement between Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy to build a new 2,000-megawatt natural gas plant in Canadys, SC.
From countless hours of testimony, we’ve learned:
- Permit processing could use firm timelines, but we need to give agencies reasonable time to review and hear from affected communities.
- South Carolina is in last place for energy efficiency. Let’s fix the leak first.
- There are serious financial risks in building natural gas pipelines and power plants that require mechanisms to protect ratepayers and communities.
- All energy projects are land use decisions. More coordination among local governments, communities, and utilities is needed to ensure only the best projects move forward to the Public Service Commission.
- Solar and battery storage can be brought on faster than natural gas plants and can serve as solutions for large energy users looking to invest in on-site solar generation. We should remove barriers to this type of generation buildout.
- Ultimately, decisions that drastically alter land use, affect private property rights, and tie us to financially risky projects should be made in the sunlight of public accountability, with input from local elected leaders, businesses, and residents.
So, does the Energy Security Act (H.3309) move the needle on these points? Not in its current form. We’re hopeful lawmakers will strike a better balance as they work on amendments. Have thoughts? Don’t hesitate to reach out — I want to hear them.
Meanwhile, in Senate news:
The Special Committee on South Carolina’s Energy Future, which also met last Wednesday, is continuing to consider the Energy Security Act as well, albeit at a more deliberative pace to dig deep on the issues uncovered by hearings last fall. This latest hearing focused on solutions for large energy users, which have been the driving force behind calls for natural gas buildout throughout the Southeast.
Watch those two hearings on the Statehouse Video Archives page — scroll down to Wednesday, January 29 at 10:00 am, Special Committee on South Carolina’s Energy Future and House Labor Commerce and Industry Public Utilities Subcommittee.
Plot twist: momentum is building behind reviving the failed VC Summer Nuclear Project. A Senate subcommittee advanced bills (S.51 and S.12) supporting Santee Cooper's RFP to secure private investors for the project, building on Governor McMaster’s endorsement of the project during his annual State of the State address. He’s calling it part of a national “nuclear power renaissance” that would help address SC’s energy needs.
The Governor also recommended that the state’s budget include $13.7 million for the Department of Environmental Services to hire new staff to tackle permitting backlogs, setting an ambitious 90-day deadline for decisions. It’s a bold move, but we think the permitting process needs to balance efficiency with opportunities for public input and thorough review.
For more on the Governor's remarks, click here.
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