What's at Stake
Renewable energy offers the best hope of creating an energy independent South Carolina. By developing its homegrown, renewable resources, South Carolina can free itself from dependence on foreign energy producers. Moreover, advancing the use of renewable resources offers a tremendous economic benefit to the state. According to a recent study completed for the South Carolina Energy Office, the development of biomass energy facilities could result in $1.7 billion in direct capital investment over 15 years. Another study by the Blue-Green Action Alliance ranked South Carolina third nationally in “green collar” job potential.
Challenges
Although our state produces neither coal nor uranium, coal and nuclear plants supply over 90 percent of our state’s electricity. Consequently, of every dollar that South Carolinians spend on energy, 98 cents leaves the state. As a percentage of South Carolina’s total energy production, renewable energy use declined from 6.7 percent in 1990 to 2.7 percent in 2002. Reversing this trend and promoting our state’s indigenous energy sources requires courage, creativity, and leadership. South Carolina has some of the highest offshore wind potential on the Eastern seaboard, and some of the richest biomass resources as well. But out-of-state interests are lobbying hard on behalf of “clean coal,” denying the pollution and uncertain costs of coal technology and seeking to delay investments in clean, renewable energy alternatives.
Next Steps
The General Assembly should direct the Budget and Control Board to study the economic benefits of investing in homegrown renewable energy and make legislative recommendations for “kick-starting” the renewable energy renaissance.
The General Assembly should deepen and expand the provisions under the Energy Freedom and Rural Development Act to ensure that South Carolina incentives for homegrown, renewable energy are sufficient so that our state gets its fair share of the benefits from the national renewable industry revolution.
The General Assembly should pass a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requiring that the state’s utilities maximize the utilization of South Carolina’s homegrown, renewable energy resources and minimize the use of polluting energy resources that send billions of dollars to other states and nations.
The General Assembly should pass a comprehensive net metering law ensuring that residential solar energy producers are able to sell electricity to the utilities for the same price they purchase electricity.
For more information:
Ben Moore, Coastal Conservation League, 843-723-8025
John Ramsburgh, Sierra Club, 803-256-8487
Fast Facts
A 2007 study by the Blue-Green Alliance found that SC has the potential for 22,351 new jobs, including 11,204 manufacturing jobs in wind and 3,559 jobs in solar.
Currently, SC meets approximately 40 percent of its energy needs by burning dirty fossil fuels like coal.
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