Burning Coal, Burning Cash

South Carolina spent $1.1 billion on net coal imports in 2008, ranking 11th highest in total net imports in the U.S. The state relies on coal for 40.6% of its electricity generation despite having no in-state coal supplies. The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that investing in energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, such as offshore wind and solar, could redirect funds back into the local economy and improve energy independence.

• In 2008, South Carolina spent $1.1 billion on net coal imports, ranking it 2nd among U.S. states for net imports relative to gross state product (0.70 percent), 4th for net imports per person ($245), and 11th for total net imports.
• Santee Cooper, the state's largest power producer, accounted for approximately 40% of the state's total coal imports, spending $453 million. Its Cross generating station near Pineville was the most import-dependent facility in the state, spending $276 million in 2008 and ranking as the 36th largest source of carbon dioxide emissions among U.S. coal plants.
• South Carolina's electricity generation in 2008 was 50.6% nuclear, 40.6% coal, 5.6% natural gas, 1.8% non-hydro renewables, and 1.1% hydroelectric. The state produces 25% more electricity than its retail customers purchase, suggesting that some power from in-state coal plants is exported.
• The document suggests that reducing annual electricity use by 1% could save consumers $39 million and prevent $21 million from leaving the state in the first year. However, in 2007, South Carolina spent 120 times less per capita on ratepayer-funded electricity efficiency programs than it did on imported coal.
• South Carolina has the technical potential for renewable energy resources to supply more than 2.5 times its 2008 power demand, including offshore wind, solar, small-scale hydro, and sustainable forestry by-products. The state is already a manufacturing hub for wind technology, with companies like GE Energy in Greenville, Timken in Union, Kaydon in Sumter, and IMO Group in Dorchester County.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2010). Burning Coal, Burning Cash. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-South-Carolina.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Burning Coal, Burning Cash. 2010. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-South-Carolina.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Burning Coal, Burning Cash |date=May 2010 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-South-Carolina.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2010burning, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Burning Coal, Burning Cash}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2010}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-South-Carolina.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }