CVSC Statement on VC Summer Abandonment
Conservation Voters of South Carolina’s Executive Director, John Tynan, issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement from Santee Cooper and SCE&G regarding abandonment of the VC Summer nuclear project:
“Every energy plan for SC’s future includes the baseload nuclear generation at VC Summer as a cornerstone to meet our energy needs. These plans are now obsolete and must be reworked.
With today’s announcement about VC Summer’s abandonment, we now have an opportunity to reshape South Carolina’s energy future. Rather than look back, we must seize this opportunity and create an environment that drives bold investments in a clean energy economy.
Utilities, state agencies, and conservationists have already been working to diversify the energy landscape in South Carolina. We developed the first state energy plan in 2016, and we passed legislation in 2014 that has allowed massive growth in solar energy. We need to do it again.
We should move quickly to invest heavily in energy efficiency, energy storage, and renewable generation. These proven solutions are the best way to reduce energy consumption and create the clean and affordable energy needed to support growth in all areas of the state.
The foundation is set. Let’s act now to build a clean energy future for South Carolina.”