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SCiway, created in partnership with the South Carolina Broadband Office, would reach unserved rural communities.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Santee Cooper yesterday applied for a National Transportation and Information Administration (NTIA) federal grant to fund a pilot project aimed at providing reliable, resilient broadband access to areas of South Carolina with the highest levels of poverty. The project was created in partnership with the South Carolina Broadband Office (SCBBO), part of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS).

If funded, the SCiway pilot project would leverage Santee Cooper’s existing dark fiber, the utility’s in-kind contribution to the project, to bring broadband access more quickly and broadly to underserved and unserved areas of the State.

“Broadband is a necessity, not a luxury, and the pandemic highlighted weaknesses in broadband access in South Carolina, particularly for those individuals living in rural areas,” said Jim Stritzinger, Director, SCBBO.

“We are in a unique position to assist rural South Carolinians by building upon essential resources and dark fiber we already have in place,” said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper President and CEO. “Working together with the SCBBO, we have studied this challenge and proposed a creative solution that could be a gamechanger for South Carolinians in the near future.”

Specifically, grant funding would help cover the costs of electronics and ready-made fiber interconnects, or “on ramps,” that would make fiber access more easily and readily accessible to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) statewide. This includes access to aerial fiber and nearly a dozen new “on ramps.” As part of the plan, ISPs also would have the benefit of free dark fiber access for an initial two-year period to help identify its best potential for retail providers.

If funded, the SCiway pilot project would immediately impact (within a 3-mile buffer):

SCiway has been designed specifically to facilitate NTIA’s two key objectives: (1) encouraging the expansion and extension of middle-mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas to the backbone of the internet, and (2) promoting broadband connection resiliency through the creation of alternative network connection paths that can be designed to prevent single points of failure on a broadband network.

Santee Cooper

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state, and one of America’s Best Midsize Employers as named by Forbes. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.

A group representing 20 utilities across South Carolina that declined to build a new plant with Santee Cooper is rolling out a plan to meet its future power needs without partnering with Santee Cooper on a Hampton County generator.

The plan includes buying electricity from existing providers in and outside of the state, developing programs to help customers reduce peak energy consumption, tapping into large-scale alternative energy sources and pursuing deals with companies that build new generators.

Central Electric Power Cooperative, a not-for-profit group that provides power to electric cooperatives serving one-third of the state’s mostly rural population, recently updated the Central-Santee Cooper executive committee on its so-called resource plan at a meeting in West Columbia.

“We want to be as transparent as we can,” Central CEO Rob Hochstetler said March 31.

He said the electric cooperatives have entered into two contracts to buy more than 500 megawatts to meet peak demand and that they also have a “handshake” deal to purchase an undisclosed amount of additional electricity as the need arises.

“Central has no plans to build a power plant,” Hochstetler said. “We would like to participate as a customer with a low-cost provider.”

The purchase agreements are part of the plan the group was required to put together after it declined last year to invest in a new natural gas-powered generating unit needed by Santee Cooper, the state-owned electric utility based in Moncks Corner.

At the time, the existing coal-fired Winyah Station in Georgetown County was to be the site of the project. Santee Cooper then changed the location in October to an undisclosed part of Hampton County.

Columbia-based Central delivers electricity to more than 1.7 million South Carolinians and is Santee Cooper’s largest customer.

Central has come under criticism from lawmakers for some recent decisions, including its agreement to purchase of 292 megawatts from an out-of-state supplier, AL Sandersville of Warthen, Ga.

Legislators are now considering bills that would require Central and its members to seek approval from several state oversight and regulatory agencies, including the S.C. Public Service Commission, before entering any power purchase agreements with any entity other than Santee Cooper.

“We don’t want to get in the middle of Central’s right to contract for power, but we believe the cooperatives should be under the same scrutiny as other utilities,” Horry County Sen. Luke Rankin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said at a meeting last month.

Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton said the utility will include many of the same elements Central is proposing when it presents its so-called resource plan to the Public Service Commission next month.

“We need kind of an all-in approach to meet the needs of the state,” he said. In addition to Central, Santee Cooper provides power to about 200,000 customers and 27 large industries.

Based on South Carolina’s growth rate, maintaining a proper balance of demand and supply will require continuous planning, Staton added.

For the near term, Santee Cooper said it’s working now to fill a projected shortfall based on the existing load on its electric system, customer growth and reserve requirements for the winter of 2024.

“It is a call to move and move fast,” said Marty Watson, chief power supply officer.

Watson said Santee Cooper issued “requests for proposals” to look at what resources are available and is considering large-scale batteries and other options.

Staton called the growth outlook “a huge opportunity for us.”

“It’s big, it’s a big item. It’s big for the entirety of the state, but it’s not too big for us,” he said.

Cotton growers can learn about the current crop situation and price outlook as well as new varieties during the 2023 South Carolina Cotton Growers Meeting slated for Jan. 24 in Santee.

The meeting gets underway with registration at 8:15 a.m. at the Santee Conference Center, 1737 Bass Drive, Santee. Frank Rogers, vice chairman of the South Carolina Cotton Board, kicks off the first morning session at 9 a.m. with a welcome and update from the Cotton Board followed by reports from South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers and Ted Schneider, chairman of the National Cotton Council.

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Nathan Smith, Clemson Cooperative Extension Service economist and professor located at the Sandhill Research and Education Center, will give a cotton situation and price outlook for 2023.

The second morning session includes a report from Leslie Beaty, chief chemist and residue lab supervisor for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture Seed Laboratory. Ed Barnes, senior director of ag research, will give a report from Cotton Incorporated and Jeremy Greene, Clemson entomologist stationed at the Edisto REC, will talk about insect management.

The session ends with a presentation by Todd Campbell, research geneticist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, about why public cotton breeding programs are needed.

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The afternoon session will include a review of the 2022 cotton crop as well as an update on new varieties by Mike Jones, Clemson Extension state cotton specialist located at the Pee Dee REC. Also during the afternoon session, Will Groover of BASF, Dan Pitts of Americot, Joseph Young of Bayer Crop Science and Jason Woodward of Phytogen will talk about new varieties for the Southeastern United States and give a cotton industry update.

The meeting is expected to adjourn at 2:30 p.m.

Pesticide recertification and certified crop adviser credits will be offered.

Dicambia training also will be offered.

For information, contact Mike Jones at majones@clemson.edu.

New this year, kickoff Celebrate The Season at Holiday in the Park on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – The 12th annual Celebrate The Season charitable event, a family-friendly, month-long holiday festival, takes place daily from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Nov. 25 through Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25). Celebrate The Season, organized and hosted by Santee Cooper, has donated more than $1 million to local charities, including the Coastal Community Foundation’s Giving Back to Berkeley Fund, since 2011. Berkeley Electric Cooperative will again serve as the festival’s presenting sponsor.

For only $5 per vehicle, visitors can drive through Celebrate The Season’s mile-long Holiday Lights Driving Tour, where thousands of festive holiday lights complement the natural beauty of Old Santee Canal Park. Participants can take as many trips as they like on the day they purchase their ticket.

New this year, Old Santee Canal Park will host Holiday in the Park from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 25 and 26. This kickoff event is included with admission to the Holiday Lights Driving Tour, which begins at Santee Cooper Headquarters at 1 Riverwood Dr. in Moncks Corner and ends in the park. Bring your family and friends for food, entertainment, a visit with Santa, and many other activities to help usher in the holiday season.

The beautiful LED lighting displays are powered by 100% Santee Cooper Green Power, which is Green-e Energy certified and meets the environmental and consumer-protection standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. Learn more at www.green-e.org.

For those looking for additional weekend festivities, Holiday Fairs at Moncks Corner Regional Recreation Complex, organized by the Town of Moncks Corner, will be held each Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Dec. 2 to Dec. 17. Admission to the Holiday Fairs, which features holiday-themed entertainment and activities, is free.

Santee Cooper

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state, and one of America’s Best Midsize Employers as named by Forbes. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – The Shuckin’ in the Park Oyster Roast at Old Santee Canal Park is back. On Saturday, March 11, the annual event will return after a three-year hiatus.

The park opens at 9 a.m. and oysters from the ACE Basin will be provided by Reed’s Catering and will be served from 1 to 6 p.m. Guests will also be treated to live music from The Coppertones, one of the South’s premier live party bands for over 20 years with a perfect mix of Motown, beach/shag, 70s funk and newer party favorites.

Admission tickets to the oyster roast are $5 per person and can be purchased at the park in advance or on the day of the event. As always, there is free admission for children under 12 who will be entertained with activities including jump castles. Other activities include cornhole and giant Jenga.

Once inside, oysters will be available for $15 per gallon-sized bucket. Along with oysters, food trucks with various non-seafood items and other tasty treats will be available. Individual coolers will be permitted, but visitors are asked to keep their pets at home.

All Shuckin’ in the Park's electricity needs will be powered by renewable Green Power from Santee Cooper. Santee Cooper generates Green Power from clean, renewable energy sources including landfill methane gas, solar power and wind power right here in South Carolina. Green Power is Green-e Energy certified and meets the environmental and consumer-protection standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. Learn more at www.green-e.org.

As this is a special event, admission with an annual park pass does not apply. For more information, call the park at 843-899-5200 or visit www.oldsanteecanalpark.org.

Santee Cooper

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state, and one of America’s Best Midsize Employers as named by Forbes. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.