south_carolina_cpp_letter_3.2.16-056805addeaa8ed6.pdf

A letter from a coalition of energy and environmental organizations to Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina, urging the state to maximize investments in energy efficiency to meet Clean Power Plan goals cost-effectively.

• Energy efficiency is presented as the most economical demand-side energy resource, being less expensive than renewables or electric and gas generation. It is described as the fastest and cheapest method to meet energy demand and improve air quality through residential upgrades, commercial building energy reduction, and improved manufacturing efficiency.
• The authors argue that energy efficiency is the only strategy that simultaneously reduces emissions, mitigates the costs of implementing the Clean Power Plan, creates sustained local jobs, and allows businesses and residents to control energy bills.
• Beyond utility-administered programs, the letter identifies several non-utility energy efficiency opportunities in South Carolina, including energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs), residential retrofit financing, combined heat and power investments, and the adoption of building energy codes that use above-code green building certification.
• The document claims that implementing specific energy-efficiency policies—such as updated building energy codes, an energy-savings target, and increased combined heat and power—could meet nearly 50 percent of South Carolina's 2030 Clean Power Plan compliance goal. This approach would reportedly save South Carolinians $1.2 billion and avoid nearly 4.8 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
• The signatories recommend that South Carolina opt into the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP) to maximize cost-effective emissions reductions if the state decides to submit a plan to avoid a Federal Plan.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2016). south_carolina_cpp_letter_3.2.16-056805addeaa8ed6.pdf. https://www.eesi.org/files/South_Carolina_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. south_carolina_cpp_letter_3.2.16-056805addeaa8ed6.pdf. 2016. https://www.eesi.org/files/South_Carolina_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=south_carolina_cpp_letter_3.2.16-056805addeaa8ed6.pdf |date=2 March 2016 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/South_Carolina_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2016southcarolinacppletter3216056805addeaa8ed6pdf, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{south\_carolina\_cpp\_letter\_3.2.16-056805addeaa8ed6.pdf}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2016}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/South_Carolina_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }