gov. Henry McMaster, Sen. Lindsey Graham discuss energy transition, promote nuclear power | News

gov. Henry McMaster and US Sen. Lindsey Graham met with energy industry leaders in Charleston this week to promote the possibility of South Carolina becoming a top power-producing state and nuclear power being a key player in the state’s economic future.

The consortium of industry leaders and politicians known as the Southern States Energy Board is holding its annual conference in the Holy City. The group meets periodically to lobby for energy industry-related policies at various levels of government.

The three-day conference kicked off Aug. 28.

McMaster touted the possibility of South Carolina harnessing natural resources for solar, wind and hydro-electric power while touting nuclear power as a crucial energy source that could boost the state’s economy.

While heavily promoting the merits of nuclear power, both the Republican governor and senator acknowledged that plans for it have previously gone astray in South Carolina.

Second round of VC Summer refunds, worth $61M, coming for Dominion SC customers

South Carolina Electric & Gas, a Cayce-based utility, ran a $9 billion nuclear plant expansion project, known as the VC Summer project, that was ultimately scuttled in 2017. The debacle led to a class-action lawsuit and the indictment of two of the utility’s top executives.

The joint nuclear venture with state-owned Santee Cooper was supposed to provide clean energy to millions of South Carolinians for decades to come. Instead, the utilities abruptly canceled the project after nearly a decade of planning and construction and $9 billion spent.

Investigations launched after its failure determined the VC Summer expansion had suffered from design issues, supply-chain dysfunction and slow construction progress for years, spiraling toward collapse even as SCE&G raised its customers’ electric rates nine times to pay for it.

Four businessmen, including the two top SCE&G executives, were indicted on charges of defrauding SC electric customers. Three have pleaded guilty.

What's the 'speech or debate' clause cited in Georgia probe?

“Don’t give up on nuclear power. We stumbled big time in South Carolina. It was a nightmare. There was some mess, but we’ve got to push through,” Graham said.

Opening remarks at the first two days of the conference ranged from embracing a “low-carbon future” and investing in electric vehicle production to promoting fossil fuels as both a crucial domestic asset and foreign export.

Graham referred to gas as a “bridge fuel,” during the energy transition and a key way to assist in the war in Ukraine. Exporting gas to Germany this winter will weaken Russia, he said.

Comments toed the line between embracing renewable energy, which has been strongly promoted by President Joe Biden’s administration, and rejecting federal regulation on the energy industry as a whole.

Cunningham, McMaster agree to SC governor debate hosted by The Post and Courier and SCETV

“If you read the Constitution,” said McMaster, pulling a small copy of it out of his pocket, “there isn’t anything in there that says the (Environmental Protection Agency) should exist.”

The founding fathers wrote the US Constitution in 1787. President Richard Nixon, a Republican, created the EPA in 1970.

Graham backed investments in renewable energy and electric vehicles as an economic opportunity regardless of the environmental impact.

“Whether you believe in climate change or not, car companies are making electric vehicles because they’re in demand by the consumer,” he said.

Graham added that he wants to promote advancements in these industries but not “wreck the economy in the name of climate change.”

Panel discussions at the conference cover topics such as the clean energy transition, carbon recapture, nuclear energy and workforce development.

reach Emma Whalen at 843-708-5837. Follow her on Twitter @_emma_whalen.

Comments are closed.