South Carolina is experiencing growing demand for electricity as the population increases, developers look to build data centers, and manufacturers try to expand their operations. This push for growth creates opportunities for investment and job creation, but it also begs an important question: Who should pay for the new power generation needed to meet rising
Energy Ventures Analysis published a new study this week, “Evaluating the Continued Operation of Dominion Energy’s Coal-Fueled Generation in South Carolina.” This analysis, from a respected Virginia-based firm, indicates that should the merger of Dominion Energy South Carolina and NextEra Energy be approved by the South Carolina Public Service Commission, the new entity should resist
When NextEra Energy proposed to “combine” (merge) with Dominion Energy and Dominion Energy South Carolina, for a brief moment it was what one observer called a “sleepy energy story.” Utilities merge all the time. So what? But then elected officials and policy groups from both left and right began to take a closer look at
This new report explores the ongoing development of SMRs in the United States and abroad. This technology could be important for South Carolina’s future growth as the energy grid becomes increasingly pressured. DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT. What is the current state of energy in South Carolina? Due to increased growth, in-migration and aging power plants,
New York’s Climate Superfund Act, passed in 2024, sought to require American energy producers to pay roughly $3 billion per year for 25 years based on their emissions from 2000–2024. This would result in $75 billion being paid to reverse alleged environmental damages caused by these emissions. South Carolina was part of a coalition of
South Carolina’s electricity market remains a regulated monopoly. Utilities operate within fixed territories, leaving customers with no choice of provider, while the state government sets the rates. Palmetto Promise Institute has long advocated for Limited Retail Choice (LRC). This proven reform allows customers to purchase electricity from alternative suppliers rather than being locked into service
As we all know, energy demand is a pressing issue for South Carolina. According to EIA data, South Carolina energy rates went up more than 9% last year and show no sign of slowing down. That being said, South Carolina has historically boasted energy rates below the national average, a trait that makes it very attractive to both manufacturers and residents. Recently, PPI laid out a case for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a primary solution to this
Welcome to the Innovation Age! It’s scary and exciting. Technology is advancing so rapidly it’s difficult to grasp the implications. Artificial intelligence (AI) and the data centers that support it are garnering the same sort of resistance the “horseless carriage” received when it first appeared on American roads in the late 19th century. The reaction
When you use an AI chatbot, watch an online video, back up a photo, or even send a text message, it is usually a data center that handles it behind the scenes. Even though most of us never see them, these campuses silently support our everyday lives. Knowing what a data center is and what sets them apart from other facilities will help us understand why they are becoming increasingly important. What Is a Data Center? Data centers are
On July 31, 2017, construction was halted on the V.C. Summer Units II and III nuclear expansion project in Fairfield County. One of the entities responsible for the project’s failure was South Carolina’s state-owned utility, Santee Cooper. After the debacle, Santee Cooper and its V.C. Summer co-owner, SCE&G (now subsumed by Dominion Energy) assumed billions in debt from the failure of the project. SCE&G turned to ratepayers and to Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) Dominion to
