South Carolinians Fret Over Price Tag of Proposed Gas Plant at PSC Hearing

Residents of South Carolina voiced strong concerns at recent Public Service Commission hearings over the escalating costs associated with the proposed Canadys gas power plant. Initially estimated at $2.5 billion when announced in August 2024, the project's price tag has doubled to $5 billion, with further increases possible due to supply chain delays, inflation, tariffs, and infrastructure expenses. Many fear that these rising costs will be passed on to customers of Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy South Carolina (DESC), exacerbating the financial strain on households already struggling with high energy bills. The proposed plant, which would run on fracked natural gas, is intended to meet growing energy demands, particularly from anticipated new data centres in the region. However, critics argue that basing such a substantial investment on speculative data centre developments, which have yet to commit to building in South Carolina, is risky and potentially wasteful. Environmental advocates and ratepayers alike have urged the utilities to prioritise renewable energy sources and modern grid investments over costly fossil fuel infrastructure that may not align with long-term needs. Voices from the community highlighted the human impact of rising energy prices, with residents describing difficult choices between paying utility bills and essential living expenses. Maya Rivera-Vazquez, a Dominion Energy customer, emphasised the need to avoid repeating past mistakes by investing in outdated infrastructure, advocating instead for expanded solar power and battery storage solutions. The Sierra Club’s Paul Black also criticised the utilities’ reluctance to retire ageing coal plants, warning that continuing to operate these alongside a new gas facility would be both costly for consumers and damaging to public health. The utilities’ current plans, as outlined in DESC’s 2026 Integrated Resource Plan, suggest a continued reliance on coal power well into the 2030s, with no firm commitments to retire these plants even if the Canadys gas plant proceeds. Santee Cooper has similarly declined to pledge the closure of its Winyah coal plant. This approach has drawn criticism for lacking a clear transition strategy towards cleaner energy, raising concerns about the environmental and financial implications for ratepayers and the broader community. As the debate continues, the Public Service Commission holds significant influence over whether the Canadys plant will move forward and under what conditions. Stakeholders are calling for greater transparency and accountability, urging the PSC to consider cost caps and to ensure that any approval of the gas plant is coupled with firm commitments to retire polluting coal facilities. The outcome of this decision will have lasting effects on South Carolina’s energy landscape, consumer costs, and environmental health.