Santee Cooper has built a strong legacy as a leading resource in the State of South Carolina in meeting the electricity needs in communities across our state. We continue to plan for the future through our Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which was submitted to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina in May 2023.
Our IRP is intended to represent the most reasonable and prudent means of meeting our energy and capacity needs as of the time the plan is prepared. It balances multiple objectives including system reliability, environmental responsibility, cost impacts and risks. We expect the portfolio laid out in our IRP will allow us to continue to serve our customers and communities for years to come.
The submitted plan was the result of 18 months of detailed analysis and extensive public input. The preferred portfolio provides a road map for meeting the future power needs of our customers through a modern generation mix that prioritizes flexibility, reliability, and affordability.
The plan would significantly reduce our carbon footprint by closing coal units, adding flexible natural gas generation jointly built with Dominion Energy South Carolina, and significantly increasing solar power on the system. This enables Santee Cooper to continue to power South Carolina reliably and affordably in support of South Carolina’s growing power-dependent industries across the state.
Key components of the portfolio include:
- Adding over 2,500 megawatts (MW) of solar power by 2040.
- Adding 1,020 MW of natural gas combined cycle capacity, in part to replace coal-fired power slated to be retired.
- The already announced retirement of the 1,150 MW coal-fired Winyah Generating Station, timed to coincide with availability of the new natural gas resource and involving a parallel community-driven just transition process.
- Adding 350 MW of innovative battery storage technology by 2040 to increase flexibility in meeting resource needs.
- Reducing Santee Cooper’s carbon emissions rate by over 50% from 2005 levels by 2040, with further reductions as more solar comes online.
This is an ongoing process. We’ll continue to engage stakeholders, including by creating a stakeholder working group, and implementing a short-term action plan. That short-term plan includes working with Central Electric Power Cooperative Inc. to execute resources to meet near-term needs, and procuring additional solar over the next three years.
Learn more about the IRP here.