Dominion Energy plan doubles down on gas, dismisses coal retirement goals

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Yesterday, the South Carolina Public Service Commission approved Dominion Energy’s integrated resource plan for South Carolina, paving the way for riskier and dirtier energy sources and putting Dominion’s coal retirement timeline in question. Rather than seize the opportunities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the plan includes heavy investment in methane gas without sufficient investment in cleaner technology.

“We’re disappointed in the Public Service Commission’s decision which will put customers at risk of worse environmental impacts and higher energy bills due to fuel cost volatility. There are cleaner, more efficient energy resources available that don’t raise our costs of living,” said Kate Mixson, SELC Senior Attorney. “We should be joining the region’s shift towards a clean energy future—not marrying South Carolinians to volatile, aging resources that harm our health and our wallets.” 

“It is disappointing to say the least that the commission has approved a plan that will add to the already high burden that South Carolinians shoulder from fossil fuel generation,” said Paul Black, Sierra Club, Beyond Coal Sr. Campaign Organizer. “Instead of looking forward and embracing cleaner cheaper alternatives, they are exposing our state to ever increasing risks to our environment, economic future, and public health.”

“It is unfortunate that the Commission has approved a plan that doubles-down on fossil-fuel generation and neglects opportunities to save customers money through a more diversified mix of energy resources,” said Taylor Allred, CCL Energy & Climate Program Director. “Dominion could have cut costs substantially by reducing the size of the combined-cycle joint project and adding more battery storage, but it is instead considering increasing the size of the project to 2,000 MW of generating capacity, up from the 1,300 MW in its 2023 integrated resource plan.”

“The plan that was approved today will plow major ratepayer funds into retrofitting old coal plants instead of developing new clean energy infrastructure,” said Eddy Moore, SACE Decarbonization Director. “That is not the leadership we need at a time when electricity rates are already rising and climate-driven disasters in South Carolina are getting worse.”

The long-range energy planning process allows for interested parties, such as environmental groups and large customers, to intervene and participate in the proceeding before the Commission. Intervening parties can submit evidence critiquing a utility’s long-term plan and whether it is the most reliable and affordable way to meet energy demand for South Carolina communities. Sierra Club and SELC, on behalf of CCL and SACE, submitted recommendations in Dominion’s IRP proceedings at the PSC.