With miles of precious coastline, Blue Ridge mountains, and historic cities and cultures, South Carolina has much to protect. Yet the state’s major utilities are not keeping promises to retire coal plants while nearly half of the largest power plants are producing power with polluting methane gas.

Still, the Palmetto State is untapped ground for clean energy, especially solar power. Significant solar projects are set to come online in 2025 to help power the state’s anticipated spike in energy demand over the next decade, and more electric vehicles are hitting South Carolina’s roads than ever before. Despite legislation that puts its clean energy future at risk, South Carolina is rising to the challenge.