‘Keep the wild places wild.’ Public opposes planned gas plant near SC’s ACE Basin

A proposed 2,200-megawatt natural gas plant in Colleton County, South Carolina, developed jointly by Dominion Energy and state-owned Santee Cooper at an estimated cost of $5 billion, has sparked significant public and environmental opposition. During a Public Service Commission public hearing at the Walterboro Wildlife Center, residents and activists, including Miranda O’Reilly, voiced concerns regarding potential habitat destruction and pollution in the nearby ACE Basin, a vital nature preserve. Opponents questioned the plant's necessity and environmental impact, advocating instead for renewable energy solutions. The utilities contend that the plant is crucial for meeting the increasing electricity demand from new residents and planned data centers across South Carolina. Dominion Energy President Keller Kissam clarified that while the plant serves general load, additional generation would be required for future data centers. Santee Cooper spokesperson Mollie Gore affirmed the plant's necessity to fulfill projected demand from a diverse customer base. The project is also presented as a means to facilitate the retirement of older coal plants. Further environmental concerns arise from the proposed 71-mile pipeline associated with the plant, which would traverse Colleton and Hampton counties. Despite widespread opposition, several Colleton County leaders, including council member Steve Murdaugh and Brantley Strickland from the Colleton County Economic Alliance, publicly supported the project, emphasizing its potential economic benefits and the possibility of industrial coexistence with the ACE Basin. Public hearings are ongoing, with additional sessions scheduled for April 7 in Columbia. The Public Service Commission is anticipated to issue a decision on the plant's permit by mid-June. Critics have also highlighted a significant increase in the plant's estimated cost, from $2.5 billion to $5 billion within a year, raising fears of potential rate hikes for Dominion and Santee Cooper customers.