Trystan Casey
Santee Cooper is South Carolina's largest power and water utility and has been serving the people of South Carolina for 90 years. The Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project, also known as the Santee Cooper Project, was constructed in 1939 to improve navigation and provide hydroelectric power from the Santee and Cooper rivers in South Carolina. The project first generated electricity on February 17, 1942, and has since become an important source of energy, jobs, and industrial development for the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1939 |
| Purpose | To electrify rural, depression-era South Carolina and increase navigational opportunities |
| Type of project | Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project |
| Source of funding | Federal loans and grants |
| Total cost | $31 million |
| First generated electricity | February 17, 1942 |
| First customer | Pittsburgh Metallurgical Company |
| Current customer base | More than 2 million people |
| Headquarters | South Carolina |
| Type of electricity | Affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible |
| Owner | The state of South Carolina |
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What You'll Learn
Santee Cooper's creation and mission
Santee Cooper was created to electrify rural, depression-era South Carolina and increase navigational opportunities. In April 1934, Governor Blackwood signed a bill to create the South Carolina Public Service Authority, known as Santee Cooper, to construct two reservoirs (Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie) and a hydroelectric plant to serve the rural South Carolina population. The Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project, constructed in 1939, improved navigation and provided hydroelectric power from the Santee and Cooper rivers in South Carolina. With the creation of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, the project was intended to improve the health, recreation, and economy of the area.
The Santee Cooper project was considered an engineering feat, and it was the largest land-clearing project in U.S. history, with over 12,500 workers clearing over 177,000 acres of swamp and forest land. The project also disrupted local ecological communities by changing the salinity of the Santee and Cooper rivers. The $48.2 million project (55% federal loan, 45% federal grant) first generated electricity on February 17, 1942, and power flowed to customers in Berkeley, Georgetown, and Horry counties.
Santee Cooper's mission is to be the state's leading resource for improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians. They provide low-cost, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and they work to bring quality jobs to the state and support volunteer organizations. Santee Cooper is one of the nation's largest public power utilities and is the only large electric utility headquartered in South Carolina. They serve more than 2 million people and are the ultimate source of electricity for many across the state.
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The Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project
The Santee Cooper project was created to electrify rural, depression-era South Carolina and increase navigational opportunities. It was the largest New Deal program in the state, with all funds (totaling $31 million) coming from federal loans and grants. The project also caused substantial hardship to local landowners, as the rivers' ecologies were disrupted. During the project, 900-901 families were relocated, most of them African American, and more than 6,000 graves were relocated or buried beneath the waters of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie.
Today, Santee Cooper serves more than 2 million people and is one of the nation's largest public power utilities. It is the only large electric utility headquartered in South Carolina and is the primary source of power for all 46 counties in the state. Santee Cooper has a strong connection to wartime efforts and rural electrification, with its hydro units being able to come online in about five minutes, making it an important source of reserve power.
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Santee Cooper's role in wartime efforts
Santee Cooper has a strong connection to wartime efforts and rural electrification. The Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project was constructed in 1939 to improve navigation and provide hydroelectric power from the Santee and Cooper rivers in South Carolina. The project involved the creation of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, and it was intended to improve the health, recreation, and economy of the area.
In 1941, as America entered World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt named Santee Cooper's Pinopolis Power Plant (now Jefferies Hydroelectric Station) a national defence project, accelerating its construction. On February 17, 1942, Santee Cooper first generated electricity at the Jefferies Hydro Station to support the Allied war effort. Its first customer was the defence contractor Pittsburgh Metallurgical Company, which made ferrochromium, a key defence metal used to harden steel for ships and tanks.
Santee Cooper's role in the wartime effort was significant. It provided electricity to power industrial development and contributed to the war effort by supplying critical defence metals. Additionally, Santee Cooper's hydropower capabilities made it an important source of reserve power, which was crucial for integrating intermittent renewables. The project also improved navigation, benefiting military transportation.
Today, Santee Cooper continues to serve the people of South Carolina, providing electricity to over 2 million people and clean drinking water to 200,000 people. It remains the state's largest power provider and is committed to improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians through affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible practices. Santee Cooper has evolved over the years, but its mission to serve the people of South Carolina remains unwavering.
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Santee Cooper's environmental impact
The Santee Cooper Power and Navigation Project was constructed in 1939 to improve navigation and provide hydroelectric power from the Santee and Cooper rivers in South Carolina. The project involved the creation of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie and was intended to improve the health, recreation, and economy of the area. It was the largest land-clearing project in US history, with over 12,500 workers clearing 177,000 acres of swamp and forest land.
The Santee Cooper project had a significant environmental impact on the local area. The construction of the lakes and the hydroelectric plant altered the natural flow of the rivers, leading to a disruption in the local ecological communities. The formerly saline Cooper River became fresh, while the formerly fresh Santee River became saline. This change in water chemistry would have impacted the flora and fauna of the region, as well as the local human population.
In recent years, Santee Cooper has made efforts to improve its environmental impact and protect the natural world. The company has invested millions of dollars in the Winyah Generating Station to maintain efficient and environmentally protective operations. Santee Cooper has a track record of excavating coal ash and other generation byproducts for beneficial reuse, primarily through recycling as raw materials in cement and concrete products. Additionally, Santee Cooper has been working to retire the Grainger plant and restore the area's wetlands by planting 70,000 tree saplings and seedlings. The company is also planning the retirement of the Winyah Generating Station and proposing a replacement that includes partnering with other energy companies on a new natural gas unit, as well as investing in renewables including solar and batteries.
Santee Cooper's mission is to be the state's leading resource for improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians. The company aims to provide low-cost, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity and water services. Santee Cooper is committed to building a sustainable future for the communities it serves and has published an Annual Sustainability Report detailing its accomplishments and goals in this area.
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Santee Cooper's future plans
Santee Cooper was established in 1939 to electrify rural South Carolina and increase navigational opportunities. It is currently South Carolina's largest power provider, serving over 2 million people.
In addition to its IRP, Santee Cooper has also faced discussions about potential changes in ownership. In 2020, Governor McMaster referred to the company as a "rogue agency" due to its independence and financial problems, and there were considerations of selling the utility. However, in 2021, the South Carolina General Assembly passed Act 90, maintaining Santee Cooper's state-owned status while bringing it under the oversight of the South Carolina Public Service Commission. This oversight includes regulating integrated resource planning, service territory changes, facility siting and acquisition, and competitive procurement of renewable resources.
Santee Cooper has also expressed a commitment to providing low-cost, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity and water services. They offer energy-saving solutions for residential customers, including affordable, energy-efficient products, rebates, low-interest loans, and energy-saving tips. Additionally, they have 800 MW of renewable energy generation online or under contract, including landfill gas generation and wood biomass generation.
Overall, Santee Cooper's future plans focus on reducing their carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency, and maintaining their role as a leading resource for improving the quality of life for South Carolinians.
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Frequently asked questions
The Santee Cooper electricity project began in 1939.
The Santee Cooper electricity project first generated electricity on February 17, 1942.
Santee Cooper serves more than 2 million people today.
