Harsher-than-normal winter weather has stressed South Carolina’s energy grid in recent years. while summer usage has earned the Palmetto State the dubious honor of the highest average residential electricity bills in the country (2016). Now, come data centers, which are huge energy consumers. What is the answer? Should we turn to monopoly utilities to save
On Wednesday of this week, Governor Henry McMaster gave his final State of the State Address before a joint assembly of the Senate and House of Representatives. His speech was full of rich South Carolina history, policy priorities, and—most importantly—hope. He outlined a pathway for freedom and prosperity that is well within our grasp; a
What a year 2025 has been for the state of South Carolina! With a 2026 election cycle well underway (including a series of Statehouse special elections in recent days) and a busy initial year of the two-year legislative session, there has been no shortage of political activity. As we prepare for the 2026 legislative session, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the impact Palmetto Promise Institute has had on
This op-ed by Dr. Oran Smith and Michael Wright was published in the Post and Courier. From families to industries, everyone wants a piece of what the Palmetto State has to offer. As South Carolina continues to grow, we must identify sustainable energy solutions to mitigate an increasingly strained electricity supply while keeping rates affordable,
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