In unanimous vote, SC regulators approve controversial gas plant in ACE Basin

The S.C. Public Service Commission (PSC) has unanimously approved a controversial natural gas power plant project in Colleton County's ACE Basin, a collaboration between Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper. The plant, located at the site of a former coal-fired generator in rural Canadys, faces strong opposition from conservation groups like the Southern Environmental Law Center, Coastal Conservation League, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, who argue it poses a significant environmental risk to the ecologically sensitive area and represents a 'climate disaster'. Utilities, represented by Commissioner Justin Williams, assert the 2,200-megawatt plant is crucial for meeting the increasing energy demands of a rapidly growing region, particularly citing the strain from numerous data centers and manufacturers. They also emphasize the economic benefits and job creation for rural Colleton County. The project still requires environmental permits and approval for a 71-mile gas pipeline. In related news, Colleton County is grappling with the implications of data center growth. The county council last fall overhauled its zoning code to allow data centers in rural areas, a decision that sparked swift community pushback, including protests, angry social media comments, and an ongoing lawsuit. Following this, Colleton County council is now considering a temporary moratorium on new data center developments. Kate Mixson, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, highlighted that data centers are responsible for 70% or more of the load growth on Santee Cooper’s system and a similarly large number for Dominion, influencing the need for new power generation.