Does the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have the power to regulate emerging nuclear technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?  That is the question being posed in a new lawsuit brought against the NRC by several nuclear technology companies in cooperation with the states of Texas, Utah, Louisiana, and Florida, as well as the Arizona

BMW’s massive Spartanburg plant has something special under the hood. Powering its plant includes a system that reduces reliance on an already overtaxed energy grid. So why have you never heard about it? And more importantly, is it just a virtue-signaling venture, or is it a small glimpse into the future of independently produced power

Every time you ask AI a question, stream a show, post a photo, or save something to “the cloud,” a data center is at work. You may not even realize it, but data centers for AI and cloud-based storage are a significant part of our lives and have legitimate growing needs. But there is an

If your thermostat is currently set to “Antarctica,” utility companies have a favor to ask: maybe bump it up to something closer to “cool breeze.” As South Carolina faces a brutal heatwave this week—with heat indexes hitting triple digits across much of the state—the pressure on our power grid is hitting new highs. On Monday,

MAY 27, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COLUMBIA, SC — In a very special episode of the Beyond Policy Podcast released today, Palmetto Promise Institute hosts a roundtable discussion focused on the energy landscape in South Carolina, highlighting the state’s growth, the challenges faced by the nuclear energy sector, and the importance of energy in both

South Carolina’s electricity market is at a crossroads. Composed of utilities operating under a vertically integrated model with limited competition, the state faces growing pressure to reduce costs, find new generation, and ensure long-term grid reliability. While efforts like the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM) have introduced modest reforms among a subset of utilities in

At Palmetto Promise, we believe in the power of ideas backed by strong policy research. That belief was put to the test and proven true when our July 2024 report, Small Modular Reactors: An Answer to South Carolina’s Energy Crisis, helped lay the groundwork for a major bipartisan breakthrough in Columbia.  In recent months, both

Energy policy has long been a balancing act between market competition and regulatory oversight. Traditionally, South Carolina’s electricity market has been dominated by vertically integrated, monopoly utilities that control all three aspects of the power system—generation, transmission, and distribution. So, the Palmetto State has leaned toward regulation. But a relatively simple and proven reform is

This op-ed by Dr. Oran Smith was originally published in the SC Daily Gazette. It is no secret that South Carolina has become a magnet for business, industry, and people. Since 2007, our population has grown by over one million, and the U-Hauls keep coming. The in-migration boom includes manufacturing and high-tech industries as well. This generational change

South Carolina is at a turning point. With one of the fastest-growing populations in the country and a booming economy, the demand for reliable, affordable energy has never been higher. Yet, our outdated energy system—dominated by utility monopolies—is struggling to keep up. Without modernization, we risk not only higher costs but also potential energy shortages