USA, South Carolina: Duke Energy has received approval from the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to build a new natural gas generation plant in Anderson County, the company announced on 26 March. Construction is expected to begin by summer 2027 on an 80-ha (200-acre) site along S.C. Highway 81 South near True Temper Road.
The combined-cycle plant will have the capacity of 1,365 MW and is Duke Energy’s first new generation facility in ten years. It is scheduled to start operations by 2031 and will incorporate advanced environmental control technologies to minimise emissions, making it one of the most efficient natural gas plants in the company’s portfolio.
Of the total capacity, Central Electric Power Cooperative will own 95 MW, while North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation will hold 100 MW. The project, with an estimated cost of $3.2 B, aims to meet the growing energy demands in one of the fastest-expanding regions of the Carolinas.
The multi-year construction phase is expected to create over 700 construction jobs locally. Once operational, the plant will support around 125 permanent positions, generating approximately $10 M in annual wages and contributing an estimated $85 M in economic benefits across South Carolina.
Duke Energy Carolinas currently serves about 2.4 million customers across North and South Carolina, and the new facility will help strengthen the region’s electricity supply and reliability for decades to come.
Source: Upstate Business Journal
