In October 2025, the Board of Directors voted to advance projects that will add more than 5,000 megawatts (MW) of power for the state over the next 10 years. For perspective, Santee Cooper’s current electric system totals approximately 5,700 MW. The resource portfolio includes natural gas generation, nuclear power, solar power and what will be South Carolina’s largest battery energy storage project. These projects offer resource diversity that combines reliable base load power and flexibility.
To bring these projects online efficiently and cost-effectively, Santee Cooper has prioritized innovation, collaboration and “doing more with what we have.” The examples below highlight these priorities:
Natural Gas
Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy South Carolina are building 2,200 MW of highly efficient natural gas generation in Canadys, repurposing the site of a former coal station. The project features state-of-the-art environmental technology that minimizes impacts on air and water. This site also has the advantage of existing nearby transmission infrastructure. Community benefits include lucrative construction and permanent jobs in rural Colleton County and additional potential natural gas capacity for other economic development projects in the region. This project is pending Siting Act approval before the Public Service Commission; a decision is expected in 2026.
Santee Cooper is adding 250 MW of capacity at Rainey Generating Station in Anderson County, primarily through new equipment that will capture waste heat from two simple-cycle combustion turbines and generate additional power from that heat capture process.
Santee Cooper is adding two dual-fuel simple cycle combustion turbines on a cleaned-and-closed ash pond at Winyah Generating Station in Georgetown. The CTs together can generate approximately 100 MWs and can run on natural gas or fuel oil, adding fuel source flexibility.
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Nuclear
We are partnering with Brookfield Asset Management to complete construction of two AP1000 units in Fairfield County, at no additional cost to our customers. We intend to sell these partially built units to Brookfield, use the proceeds to pay down debt, and receive approximately 25% of the units’ power upon completion – power we can provide to our customers. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2025 that governs due diligence and other processes, with a final investment decision expected in 2027.
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Solar
In December, a 200-MW project developed by Silicon Ranch came online in Georgetown County. Santee Cooper and our largest customer, Central Electric Power Cooperative, each own a proportionate share of the solar power output from the project.
We have approved contracts for another approximately 200 MW of solar power. Developers are currently undergoing feasibility and permitting processes.
Battery Storage
We contracted with industry leader Aypa Power for them to build and own a 300-MW Pinopolis Reliability Project at our Jefferies Generating Station, with a planned in-service date of December 2027. Locating the project on a former coal generating station qualifies it for federal incentives that help lower the project cost.