CHARLESTON, S.C. (from the Southern Environmental Law Center) — The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has submitted comments to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (DES) on the draft air permit for the Canadys gas plant in Colleton County, raising concerns about the levels of allowed pollutants. The letter was signed by the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), the Charleston Climate Coalition, Friends of the Edisto and Edisto Riverkeeper, and the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP). The environmental groups recommend that DES deny the project as proposed.
The proposed Canadys gas plant is a joint venture between Dominion Energy South Carolina (DESC) and Santee Cooper. If built, it would be the largest gas-fired power plant in the state at 2,180 megawatts. The utilities have also proposed permitting the plant to burn even dirtier “No. 2 fuel oil,” which is similar to diesel.
The project is at the site of a retired and dismantled 490-megawatt coal plant on the Edisto River, the longest free-flowing blackwater river in North America. The Edisto River is the “E” in the ACE Basin, which is one of the largest relatively undeveloped estuaries on the Atlantic Coast, with rich biodiversity rivaling all but the Amazon Rainforest. The area is home to numerous historic and culturally important sites, indigenous and Gullah-Geechee communities, vast wetland habitats, abundant waterfowl, and sporting opportunities that draw visitors from all over the world.
In their comments, SELC asserts that the project cannot be permitted as proposed because (1) its emissions of fine particulate matter may cause or contribute to levels of air pollution that exceed the applicable federal standard, and (2) the proposed emission limits do not reflect the level of stringency required by the Clean Air Act. The letter highlights flaws in the impact analysis prepared by the utilities, which underestimates existing background levels of pollution as well as the potential impacts of the plant’s proposed emissions.
The comment letter lays out numerous examples of similar gas plants across the country that have received air permits with stricter limits than those proposed in the draft Canadys permit. In addition, the letter notes that the project is directly adjacent to Colleton State Park and in close proximity to other public recreation areas and several churches.
The Canadys plant would be a new major source of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, sulfuric acid, greenhouse gases, and hazardous air pollutants like formaldehyde. Exposure to these air pollutants can cause severe adverse health effects. For example, exposure to nitrogen dioxide exacerbates respiratory diseases, especially asthma, and is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and lung cancer. Exposure to fine particulate matter causes cardiovascular disease and premature death and likely causes lung cancer and adverse effects on the respiratory and nervous systems.
Alarmingly, four licensed childcare facilities are located within the “significant impact area” for short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “children are at increased risk for NO2-related health effects” because their lungs are still developing.
This air quality permit is one of multiple hurdles the plant faces before being approved.
The South Carolina Public Service Commission granted the project a “Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Convenience and Necessity” in May but deferred all consideration of environmental matters to DES.
“The health of South Carolinians deserves the same level of protection provided in other states,” said Taylor Allred, State Energy & Climate Program Director for the Coastal Conservation League. “We implore DES to reject the air permit for the Canadys plant and instruct the utilities to strive to beat the tightest emissions limits nationwide if they want to try again.”
“Dominion Energy’s own data—which we believe is incomplete—shows this massive power plant will send air pollution 50 miles downwind to Charleston,” said Eddy Moore, Decarbonization Director at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “Senior citizens, children, and other vulnerable populations deserve better from Dominion and from our state Department of Environmental Services.”
“This is the first time this project—a massive gas plant on the Edisto River, in the middle of the ACE Basin—has had an actual environmental review,” said Belvin Olasov, Director of the Charleston Climate Coalition. “If South Carolina is serious about protecting the health of its residents and its wildlife, it needs to empower its regulatory bodies to challenge projects, not just rubber-stamp them.”
“The Canadys Gas Plant stands to reintroduce a slew of harmful pollutants to the area indefinitely,” said Kenzie Poole, SCELP Staff Attorney. “The size, location, and polluting nature of this project demands rigorous environmental review, stricter permit conditions, and scrupulous monitoring from our state regulators to ensure lasting protection of the ecosystems and communities surrounding it.”
“This draft permit proposes to authorize unlawful levels of air pollution that will harm the health of nearby communities,” said Caroline Cress, SELC Senior Attorney. “At a minimum, DES must require Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper to reevaluate the potential impacts of their proposed gas plant and impose more protective emission limits to guard against significant deterioration of local air quality.”
Media Contacts:
Rachel Chu, SELC, 843-619-4617, rchu@selc.org
Sandee Jackson, Coastal Conservation League, 843-708-4280, sandeej@scccl.org
Amy Rawe, SACE, 865-235-1448, amyr@cleanenergy.org
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The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 250, including more than 160 legal and policy experts. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., SELC has offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. selc.org
Since 1989, the Coastal Conservation League has worked with communities, businesses, citizen groups, and people like you to protect what we love about South Carolina. We advocate to protect the natural environment of South Carolina’s coast for the benefit of all. The Coastal Conservation League envisions a South Carolina coast where wildlife thrives, air and water are clean, and natural landscapes are protected for generations to come.
Since 1985, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has worked to promote responsible and equitable energy choices to ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at cleanenergy.org.
The South Carolina Environmental Law Project is a non-profit, public-interest environmental law firm that uses its legal expertise to protect land, water, and communities across South Carolina.
The Friends of the Edisto’s mission is to protect and enhance the Edisto River Basin’s natural and cultural character and resources through conservation and responsible use.
The Charleston Climate Coalition is a nonprofit grassroots group of Lowcountry citizens fighting for Charleston to lead globally in climate action. We bring together activists, experts, and artists to campaign for and implement local and equitable solutions to the climate crisis like green buildings, public transportation, walk/bike infrastructure, protected wetlands, urban green infrastructure, composting, clean energy, and more.
