Commissioners Belser and Powers will be sworn-in as Chair and Vice-Chair on Thursday
Opponents of Dominion’s Pamplico Pipeline plan to voice their opposition at the PSC
Dominion Energy South Carolina Pamplico Pipeline project will cross six tributaries to the Great Pee Dee River, and predictably some folks aren’t happy about it. Many pipeline opponents appear to have seized on the Commission’s rulemaking docket, 2020-247-A, as a forum in which to voice their displeasure. The Commission has scheduled a Workshop on June 16, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., on proposed revisions to electric and gas regulations, but some folks seem to have something else in mind. The Commission has received several messages, such as this one from last week:
Good afternoon,
I want to register for docket 2020-247-A concerning Dominion Energy’s proposed pipeline along the Great Pee Dee River
Looks like things could get lively at this otherwise staid proceeding.
SC PSC Elects New Officers
This afternoon, the Public Service Commission has elected Florence Belser to serve as its Chair and Delton Powers to serve as Vice-Chair for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2022. Both were elected by acclamation.
Commerce Probe Puts Solar Projects on Hold
The New York Times reports that solar projects across the country are being delayed while the U.S. Department of Commerce investigates whether Chinese companies are evading U.S. tariffs on solar panel components by routing them through Southeast Asian Counties. The investigation was prompted by a petition alleging anti-dumping violations filed by Auxin Solar, a California-based solar panel assembler, according to Utility Dive. The prices of solar components from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, which are used in the overwhelming majority of solar modules in the U.S. could be retroactively affected. The Times quotes the Solar Energy Industries Association as saying 318 projects across the U.S. have been canceled or delayed and hundreds of companies are considering layoffs.
The Kentucky PSC Lacks a Quorum
The Kentucky PSC is left without a quorum after the state Senate refused to confirm Gov. Andy Beshear’s latest nominee. The three-member body is down to one because Republican lawmakers also refused to confirm another appointment by the Democratic Governor earlier this year. As a result, the pending 2.8 billion dollar sale of Kentucky Power to American Electric Power is in limbo. Read about it here
How the War in Ukraine Affects Energy Markets
Two recent podcasts good provide insight into the global effects on energy markets of the war in Ukraine. Josh Rhodes, a Research Associate at the University of Texas at Austin, spoke with Josh Barrow on Very Serious about Europe’s efforts to end its dependency on Russian natural gas. Mark Finley, a former senior economist for BP and former CIA analyst, spoke with former CIA director Michael Morell on Intelligence Matters about the effects of the Russian invasion on oil and gas markets. Both are interesting discussions of complex and interdependent energy markets.
SCWU Training Youth for Jobs in Water Industry
South Carolina Water Utilties has started a paid internship program at Blythewood High School. Three seniors will participate in the new program through which they will receive high school credit and the opportunity to join the company as employees based on performance. Read more at WISTV.com
PSC Hearing on EV Charging Stations
“The Public Service Commission has scheduled a public hearing in Docket No. 2021-210-E for Tuesday, June 21st, 2022 at 10 a.m. This hearing will be virtual and will be livestreamed at this link. Consumers interested in testifying at this public hearing can do so by following the process in this notice. “
The hearing is being held in response to a request by Clifton Power Company for clarification of the Commission’s jurisdiction over EV charging stations.
Offshore Wind Coming to the Carolinas
On May 11, 2022, the US Department of the Interior will auction two wind power sites off of the coast of the Carolinas. The sites, comprising 110,000 acres, are 50 miles east of Myrtle Beach. If fully developed, they could generate 1.3 gigawatts of power. Read more about it.
PSC to Review Motor Carrier Application and Insurance Requirements
The Public Service Commission has scheduled a Workshop on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. to review the following Motor Carriers Regulations:
- 103-133 (6)(F) This regulation provides the application requirements for household goods movers, passenger carriers, charter buses, and stretcher vans
- 103-170 through 103-180 These regulations pertain to the insurance requirements for motor carriers
To participate in this workshop, complete the following survey by Monday, February 21, 2022: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9XS9J2J
SC Utility News Digest 