Energy

South Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and our energy infrastructure needs serious modernization to keep up with demand. We're on the precipice of an energy crisis if we don't make smart moves now. But we have to do it in a way that keeps energy affordable for consumers. For years, South Carolinians have paid some of the country's highest energy rates. Each month rate-payers foot the bill for years of a stagnant, monopoly-run energy status quo. It’s time to open up South Carolina’s energy markets to the power of competition and break up inefficient, expensive energy monopolies. With a wholesale energy market, we can make our energy system more efficient, competitive and reliable for decades to come.
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The Latest

Blog
February 6, 2025

Commentary: Proceed with eyes wide open on VC Summer reboot

Jennifer Buckley

This op-ed by Palmetto Promise Research Fellow Jennifer Buckley was originally published in the Post and Courier. It also has been published in FitsNews. South Carolina’s dormant nuclear energy ambitions could be stirring back to life. Santee Cooper announced Jan. 22 that it is seeking proposals to acquire and complete, or propose alternatives for, the

Blog
February 5, 2025

News Release: South Carolina Voters Want Energy Grid Modernization

Palmetto Promise Team

Columbia, S.C. (February 4, 2025) — A supermajority of South Carolina’s general election voters overwhelmingly support the modernization of the state’s energy grid and a move away from the currently siloed monopoly-driven power systems. In a poll of 600 registered general election voters, 80 percent of those surveyed favored moving away from the current monopolistic

Blog
January 22, 2025

New Session, New Hope for Energy Reform

Jennifer Buckley

With the launch of a brand new 2025-26 legislative session, all bills that did not pass in 2023-24 were officially pronounced dead. Unfortunately, energy generation expansion and reform were among the key areas that saw no movement in the last General Assembly. But a conversation between Senate and House had begun. That’s progress. So, what

Blog
September 24, 2024

A Roadmap for Energy Reform

Palmetto Promise Team

South Carolina is facing an energy crisis.   In 2016, the average energy bill was higher for South Carolinians than for energy customers in any other state. We are still in the top five both nationally and in the Southeast. And it looks like power giant Santee Cooper is set to raise rates even higher.  On

Blog
July 31, 2024

July 31: That Humiliating Anniversary

Oran P. Smith, Ph.D

It was a high honor for Virgil C. Summer when SCE&G named its new power plant for him. After all, in 1984, V.C. Summer I was an impressive engineering feat. The new nuclear reactor generated a whopping 966 MW of electricity, and its construction was so efficient that it cost far less per MW generated

Blog
July 15, 2024

NEW REPORT: Small Modular Reactors – an Answer to South Carolina’s Energy Crisis?

Jennifer Buckley

We are excited to share our latest energy report, which looks at the possibility of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a solution to what is undoubtedly an energy crisis in South Carolina. DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT. What is the current state of energy in South Carolina? South Carolina’s energy status is characterized by outrageous costs

Blog
October 20, 2022

ESG…OMG!

Oran P. Smith, Ph.D

Conservative author and commentator William F. Buckley famously said that “a conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling ‘Stop!’” He also suggested that there would be consequences for attempting to shovel sand in the gears of the progressive machine. Among those who were thought to be Chicken Littles were conservative financial policy experts who