In 2023, Santee Cooper focused more intentionally on being a leading sustainable resource for improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians. That focus included an integrated resource plan intended to represent the most reasonable and prudent means of meeting Santee Cooper’s energy and capacity needs by balancing objectives such as system reliability, environmental responsibility, cost impacts, and risks. We are particularly proud that our preferred portfolio reduces our reliance on coal by roughly 65% between now and 2040, and more than doubles our use of sustainable resources while meeting the growing energy demands of our state.
Our approach to sustainability isn’t only about generation resources. We’re continuing our commitment to the communities we serve with over 25,000 recorded volunteer hours by our team members in 2023 alone. We’re also taking a leading role on grid resilience by serving as the state’s administrator for approximately $25 million in grant dollars allocated to South Carolina as a part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program.
These are big accomplishments achieved by our dedicated and talented team, and they’re just a few of the things we’re doing to ensure a sustainable, vibrant Santee Cooper for many years to come. Several more of our accomplishments are shared here in our 2023 Annual Sustainability Report.
We’re excited about the work we’re doing and the role we’re playing in building a sustainable future in the communities we serve and all of South Carolina.