The Santee Cooper Board of Directors advanced key energy projects on Oct. 24 that will help meet South Carolina’s growing energy demands and open the door for further economic development.
The board approved Santee Cooper’s participation in the planned joint construction of a 2,200-megawatt (MW) natural gas combined cycle plant at Canadys, construction of two dual-fuel simple-cycle combustion turbines (CTs) that will provide another total 100 MW in Georgetown County, and a vendor to build and operate a 300-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Berkeley County.
Counting the 250-megawatt (MW) expansion already underway at the utility’s Rainey Generation Station and the potential restart of two nuclear units offering 2,200 MW in Fairfield County, Santee Cooper is working to add over 5,000 MW of new electricity to South Carolina’s grid.
‘Santee Cooper is answering the call for energy solutions to power continued prosperity in South Carolina,” said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper President and CEO. “These new projects will go a long way in meeting future energy demands and powering progress across the state.”
Board Action: Approving the Canadys Station Project
The Board of Directors approved Santee Cooper’s participation in Canadys Station, a natural gas plant to be built with Dominion Energy South Carolina on Dominion Energy’s former coal-fired plant site in Colleton County. Santee Cooper will receive half of the plant’s capacity – enough to power as many as 250,000 homes.
The natural gas combined cycle project will provide reliable, base load power and also a flexible resource that will help integrate additional solar power, Santee Cooper noted.
The station will consist of three combined-cycle turbines with flexible fuel capability. Once complete, it will be one of the most efficient generating plants in the southeastern United States.
Based on current projections, Canadys Station will be operational in the early 2030s. By partnering together on this project, Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy will take advantage of existing infrastructure and economies of scale that will produce savings for customers.
Board Action: Approving CTs at Winyah Generating Station
The Board approved the procurement and installation of two dual-fuel simple-cycle combustion turbines (CTs) at the existing Winyah Generating Station. Each CT will produce 40-60 MW and can run on fuel oil or natural gas. The CTs, planned for a former ash pond site, will provide a highly flexible, reliable and cost-effective solution to address additional generation needs by the 2027-2028 winter season.
Board Action: Approving Pinopolis Reliability Project
The Board of Directors has selected Aypa Power, a leading developer and operator of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), to develop the Pinopolis Reliability Project, a 300 MW/1,200 MW-hour battery storage facility to be located at Santee Cooper’s Jefferies Generation Station.
Aypa Power will build, own, and operate the facility, which will become the largest battery storage installation in South Carolina and one of the largest in the South. The project underscores Santee Cooper’s leadership in advancing innovative, large-scale energy solutions that strengthen grid reliability across the region, the utility noted.
Scheduled to be operational for the 2027–2028 winter season, the Pinopolis Reliability Project will enhance grid stability and operational flexibility by storing energy during low-demand periods and supplying it during peak times. This investment represents a major step in modernizing South Carolina’s energy infrastructure and ensuring reliable, efficient service to meet the state’s growing power needs.
“Our customer base is rapidly expanding, and Santee Cooper is committed to providing reliable and sustainable electricity for all,” Staton said. “Our board also approved today the planned bond financing for these projects, subject to Joint Bond Review Committee (JBRC) approval, which will enable us to use low-cost, tax-exempt funds to help spread the project costs over the life of the assets.”
Specifically, the board authorized Santee Cooper to seek JBRC approval to finance an initial $120 million in costs for Canadys and expected construction costs for the Winyah CTs ($257 million) and the planned combined-cycle conversion for Rainey Generating Station ($201 million), along with $71 million for other capacity enhancement activities.
If approved by the JBRC, these bonds would likely be issued in one or more transactions beginning in 2026.
