Subcommittee continues hearings on H.3309; testimony focuses on grid capacity, solar siting and PSC changes

Subcommittee Chairman (name not specified) opened a Public Utility Subcommittee meeting on House Bill 3,309, the South Carolina Energy Security Act, saying, “we have 1 bill on the agenda today. It's h 3,309, South Carolina Energy Security Act. We're gonna continue to take testimony today. We're not gonna be taking any votes.”

The testimony centered on projected increases in energy demand, proposed changes in how new generation is reviewed and financed, local siting authority for projects, and proposed structural changes to the Public Service Commission and the consumer-advocate role.

Secretary Harry Lightsey, introduced as Mr. Harry Lightsey and later addressed in testimony as Secretary Lightsey, told the committee that South Carolina must add generating capacity to meet industrial growth and population increases. “Regardless of whether or not data centers are built in South Carolina, we must build more generating capacity to support the growth of our businesses and our population,” he said, adding that advances such as electrified transportation and industrial processes will raise demand. Lightsey also described SCnexus’s federal designation and…