S.C. Pee Dee Coal Plant Halted

The Southern Environmental Law Center hails today’s unanimous vote by Santee Cooper’s board to suspend permits for the state-owned utility’s proposed Pee Dee coal plant after reviewing the generation plan and re-considering the context for the plant–a down economy, impending carbon costs, increasing construction costs, and other options to meet demand.

“We commend Santee Cooper for recognizing the true cost of coal and acting decisively to move South Carolina forward to a clean energy future,” said Blan Holman, SELC senior attorney. “Today’s decision keeps cash in people’s pockets by taking this $2.5 billion coal “clunker” off the road. Santee Cooper can turn its efforts towards pursuing energy efficiency measures to reduce electricity costs for its customers and clean renewable power to generate jobs across South Carolina.”

More details are in the press release.