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County says Brookfield due diligence could spur nuclear restart, plans for jobs and industrial expansion
Summary
Vic Carpenter told residents Brookfield Management’s due diligence with Santee Cooper could lead to purchase of existing nuclear plants and large downstream investment; Fairfield County is planning workforce training, utility mapping and a new industrial park to capture opportunity.
Fairfield County officials are preparing for a possible resurgence in nuclear‑plant construction and related industrial growth, County Administrator Vic Carpenter said at a town hall.
Carpenter said Brookfield Management was selected to work with Santee Cooper and was conducting due diligence; he said a key June milestone should clarify whether Brookfield proceeds. "At the end of next year, if all that goes well, they will buy those plants for about $2,700,000,000 and that's the money that's already sitting in the ground," Carpenter said, adding that if a sale occurs, construction of new plants would follow and could amount to much larger investments countywide.
Carpenter warned the county must plan now for the likely economic impacts: he cited estimates that thousands of construction and operations employees could be connected to the projects and said the county has already begun conversations with technical colleges and universities to develop local training. He emphasized updated housing plans, traffic studies and utility planning are required to avoid repeating past disruptions.
To accommodate business growth, Carpenter said the county recently acquired more than 400 acres for a new industrial park — funded in part through a partnership with Fairfield Electric Co‑op and state resources — and expects entrance work within six months. He also discussed the need for targeted utility extensions, bridge repairs and coordination with state commerce offices before full development can proceed.
Carpenter said the county is seeking to be "at the table" with Brookfield and Santee Cooper so local interests and land‑use protections are included in early negotiations.
