Welcome to the Pee Dee Electrical Generating Station Project Website
This Website offers the latest news and information about the project, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement, and upcoming public Involvement opportunities.
The Project Team is continuing to evaluate the many alternatives under consideration for the environmental document as shown in the flowchart below. The "We Are Here Now" indicator will be moved when appropriate to reflect the current progress of the project.
RECENT PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS:
An independent analysis of the need for the project and an assessment of the demand side management is being performed. This analysis will focus on the evaluation of the need for power over time to meet the demand that is being predicted, as well as the measures that are proposed and could be put in place to reduce the demand for more energy (Demand Side Management, DSM). The results of this will be summarized in a report to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and included in the EIS.
An Agency Coordination meeting was held at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Charleston on September 10, 2008 to present the technology alternatives analysis, the Risk Assessment for Mercury, and the Site Alternatives Analysis to state and federal agencies. The presentation of the Technology alternatives be accessed at the Public Involvement Page.
A second Stakeholders Working Group meeting was held on August 21, 2008. At this meeting the Technology Alternative Analysis was reviewed and the Level II Technology Alternatives Matrix was presented. The slide presentation that were shown at that meeting can be accessed at the Public Involvement Page.
Click below to view previous recent project developments:
Article published in The Post and Courier on Friday, April 11, 2008
News Release from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on April 14, 2008
Alternatives Analysis
The Project Team is currently completing a review of several alternative technologies for providing energy. The Level I analysis looked at 17 different technologies to evaluate their potential for satisfying the need for this project. The fuel source technology alternatives are being evaluated to determine whether they could serve as a sole source or a combined source (utilization of two or more fuel types) for the proposed generating station. Several alternatives were eliminated since the technologies were found not to be feasible to provide enough energy to meet the project need at this time. The Level II analysis looked in more detail at the technologies not eliminated during Level I analysis to determine their viability as reasonable alternatives, that is, those that will be fully evaluated in the Draft EIS.
Additional information regarding the Alternatives Analysis may be found on the NEPA Process Page.
What is the proposed project?
The proposed project consists of the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study a cost-effective means to satisfy the projected demand for electrical generation capacity for the Santee Cooper’s residential and commercial customers by 2012 to avoid an electrical shortfall.
Who is responsible for the project?
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for the preparation of the DEIS. They will be following the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to evaluate the project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, under its authority from the River and Harbors Act of 1899 and Clean Water Act, must approve permits prior to the construction of the electrical generating station project.
You may find more detailed information regarding the NEPA Process on the NEPA Planning Process Page.
Who is the Project Applicant?
Santee Cooper is a state-owned public utility created in 1934 by the South Carolina General Assembly and first provided service to customers in 1942. Santee Cooper provides electrical service directly to approximately 156,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Additionally, Santee Cooper is the primary source of power distributed by 20 of South Carolina’s electric cooperatives to over 665,000 customers located in all of the state’s 46 counties.