Duke Energy has officially confirmed the company’s intent to submit an approval application to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) for building a new natural gas power plant in Anderson County.
To understand the significance of such a development, we must take into account how, in order to seamlessly serve nearly 860,000 retail electric customers across 30 South Carolina counties and keep up with the success of state’s surging economic development and population growth, Duke Energy must enable large amounts of new generation quickly.
“I’m grateful to Duke Energy for providing this significant investment to meet the future demands of our citizens and to ensure future economic prosperity. We must ensure South Carolina has the energy capacity to meet the growing needs of our residents and businesses. When you flip a switch, you should have confidence the lights will come on. This is an example of their commitment to the future energy security in our region and the State of South Carolina,” said Thomas Alexander, Senate President.
Talk about what this new Anderson County’s natural gas power plant will achieve moving forward, if approved by the PSCSC, it will bring proven new natural gas technology to the electric grid, thus acknowledging and responding against the efforts of state leaders in regards to addressing tremendous electricity generation needs.
Next up, the project will get to leverage recently-announced partnership between Duke Energy and GE Vernova, all for purpose of providing natural gas turbines and other associated equipment. With a manufacturing facility in Greenville, S.C., this particular effort will also come in handy meet the growing needs of advanced manufacturing, data centers, and population growth.
“South Carolina’s continued economic success depends on reliable, affordable energy infrastructure that can keep pace with our rapid growth. Duke Energy’s investment in a new natural gas facility in Anderson County is a direct response to that need, and it reflects the type of forward-thinking solutions encouraged by the S.C. Energy Security Act. I applaud this step toward strengthening our grid and supporting the families, businesses and industries driving our state forward,” said Murrell Smith, Speaker of the House.
Anyway, Duke plans on submitting the construction application to PSCSC later this year. If approved, construction should begin in the summer of 2027, with the whole facility set to become up and running for customers by early 2031.
Talk about these construction plans on a slightly deeper level, we begin from the fact that Duke will build out its facility on nearly 200 acres located on Highway 81 South near True Temper Road in Anderson County.
Furthermore, the newly-constructed plant will leverage existing transmission infrastructure nearby to provide more than 1,400 megawatts of electricity, supporting the homes and businesses of a rapidly growing region and state.
Markedly enough, the facility’s innovative design is also expected to reduce the need for large amounts of water, lessening the burden on county’s infrastructure.
“For many years, Duke Energy has been an integral part of Anderson County. This proposed project reflects that enduring relationship and a step forward in our shared vision for the future. The potential benefits for our schools, our local economy, and our broader community are substantial and essential. We are excited about what this means for families across the county and look forward to continuing our strong collaboration with Duke Energy to build a brighter future,” said Tommy Dunn, Anderson County Council Chairman.
