News Solartex
Advertisement
  • Home
  • CATEGORIES
    • Solar Panels
    • Solar Installation
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Solar Contractors
    • Solar Batteries
    • Solar Inverters
    • Solar Lightening
    • Solar Pumps
    • Accessories
  • MORE
    • CONTACT US
    • SOLARTEX USA
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • CATEGORIES
    • Solar Panels
    • Solar Installation
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Solar Contractors
    • Solar Batteries
    • Solar Inverters
    • Solar Lightening
    • Solar Pumps
    • Accessories
  • MORE
    • CONTACT US
    • SOLARTEX USA
No Result
View All Result
News Solartex
No Result
View All Result
Home Solar Contractors

South Carolina energy bill expands solar + storage opportunities but supports new gas plant

admin by admin
May 8, 2025
in Solar Contractors
0
DOE doles out $10 million for improved large-scale renewable energy permitting processes
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Share

On May 7, the South Carolina Senate passed HB 3309 after a rushed process in the House that stripped away key consumer protections, weakened energy efficiency provisions, and removed a provision requiring data centers to pay their fair share for energy use. With just days left in the legislative session, the Senate was pressured to pass a version that leaves South Carolinians exposed to higher costs and reduced oversight.

The final version of HB 3309 includes provisions that allow utilities to bypass full rate cases and raise customer rates annually with minimal oversight. It also incentivizes costly, capital-intensive projects that benefit utility shareholders while limiting public and regulatory scrutiny. The bill grants approval for Santee Cooper and Dominion to jointly build a large new fossil gas plant, doubling down on outdated energy investments. The House also removed a provision that would have required data centers to pay their fair share of infrastructure costs. In addition, it stripped away basic ratepayer protections, including the requirement to provide advance notice to landowners before using eminent domain for energy infrastructure projects.

“It’s deeply disappointing to see nearly a year of thoughtful, expert-driven work in the Senate discarded in favor of a rushed process that puts utility profits ahead of communities in South Carolina,” said Jake Duncan, Vote Solar’s Southeast Senior Regulatory Director. “While the original bill had room for improvement and we didn’t agree with everything in it, it was still a thoughtful and measured bill.”

Despite major changes, the bill held onto some of its original language supporting clean energy progress. It allows utilities to develop new customer-side distributed energy resource (DER) programs, expanding opportunities for solar paired with storage, load flexibility and electric vehicles. It also improves and formalizes the competitive procurement process for utility-scale renewable energy projects. In addition, the bill enhances energy efficiency (EE) programs by permitting the Public Service Commission (PSC) to set EE targets for utilities, and if those targets are not met, the PSC can appoint a third-party administrator. However, the House weakened these EE provisions by removing stronger language from the Senate version that would have required the PSC to approve all cost-effective efficiency measures, explicitly set EE targets and impose penalties on utilities that failed to meet them.

“South Carolinians deserve more than rushed policies and rising bills; they deserve a fair, transparent energy system,” Duncan said. “Vote Solar will continue to advocate for policies that increase access to local solar solutions and put communities first.”

News item from Vote Solar

Source link

Previous Post

Sunrun posts positive cash generation, rises on Q1 earnings report – pv magazine USA

Next Post

GoodLeap adds smart thermostats to California VPP management program

admin

admin

Next Post
GoodLeap launches virtual power plant solution

GoodLeap adds smart thermostats to California VPP management program

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected test

  • 23.9k Followers
  • 99 Subscribers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
AIKO vs. Trina Solar Panels

AIKO vs. Trina Solar Panels

May 15, 2024
Solar Battery Covers | Cover My Inverter

Solar Battery Covers | Cover My Inverter

October 1, 2023
ADT Solar to close 22 of 38 branches

ADT Solar to close 22 of 38 branches

November 2, 2023
Adverse Weather Conditions Solar Panels

Adverse Weather Conditions Solar Panels

October 1, 2023
How many Solar Panels Do I Need?

How many Solar Panels Do I Need?

1
The 5 Best Solar Panels For Your Home or Business

The 5 Best Solar Panels For Your Home or Business

0
The Truth About German Made Solar Panels – Don’t Fall For The Scam!

The Truth About German Made Solar Panels – Don’t Fall For The Scam!

0
Electric Element vs Heat Pump Calculator – MC Electrical

Electric Element vs Heat Pump Calculator – MC Electrical

0
SolarKal, G&S Solar bring community solar array to rooftop near NYC

SolarKal, G&S Solar bring community solar array to rooftop near NYC

May 8, 2025
Who Powers Your Home? Understanding Energy Distributors and Retailers

Who Powers Your Home? Understanding Energy Distributors and Retailers

May 8, 2025
GoodLeap launches virtual power plant solution

GoodLeap adds smart thermostats to California VPP management program

May 8, 2025
DOE doles out $10 million for improved large-scale renewable energy permitting processes

South Carolina energy bill expands solar + storage opportunities but supports new gas plant

May 8, 2025

Recent News

SolarKal, G&S Solar bring community solar array to rooftop near NYC

SolarKal, G&S Solar bring community solar array to rooftop near NYC

May 8, 2025
Who Powers Your Home? Understanding Energy Distributors and Retailers

Who Powers Your Home? Understanding Energy Distributors and Retailers

May 8, 2025
GoodLeap launches virtual power plant solution

GoodLeap adds smart thermostats to California VPP management program

May 8, 2025
DOE doles out $10 million for improved large-scale renewable energy permitting processes

South Carolina energy bill expands solar + storage opportunities but supports new gas plant

May 8, 2025
News Solartex

©2024 SOLARTEX USA LLC

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • Categories
  • Privacy Policy
  • Term of Use
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • CATEGORIES
    • Solar Panels
    • Solar Installation
    • Residential Solar
    • Commercial Solar
    • Solar Contractors
    • Solar Batteries
    • Solar Inverters
    • Solar Lightening
    • Solar Pumps
    • Accessories
  • MORE
    • CONTACT US
    • SOLARTEX USA

©2024 SOLARTEX USA LLC

Cleantalk Pixel