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Duke Energy said Monday the company intends to submit an application to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) for approval to build a new natural gas power plant in Anderson County, S.C., to help serve nearly 860,000 retail electric customers.
Duke Energy said it needs to build and enable large amounts of new generation quickly to keep up with the success the state is seeing in economic development and population growth.
“We are at a critical point in planning for South Carolina’s reliable, affordable, and resilient energy future,” said Duke Energy South Carolina President Tim Pearson. “Committing to building this modern energy facility in Anderson County is a critical piece of that strong energy future for the region.”
The Charlotte, N.C.-based company said it expects to submit the construction application to the PSCSC later this year. If approved, construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2027 and would be expected to serve customers by early 2031.
According to the company’s plans, Duke Energy would construct the facility on nearly 200 acres located on Highway 81 South near True Temper Road in Anderson County, and would use existing transmission infrastructure nearby to provide about 1,400 megawatts of electricity.
The innovative design of the facility would also significantly reduce the need for large amounts of water, creating less burden on the county’s infrastructure, said Duke, which added that the project will benefit from the partnership it recently announced with GE Vernova to provide natural gas turbines and other associated equipment to meet the growing needs of advanced manufacturing, data centers, and population growth.
“South Carolina’s continued prosperity depends on reliable, forward-looking energy projects like this one,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. “We are grateful to have a committed partner like Duke Energy taking the necessary steps to meet our state’s rising energy demand and ensure we are well-equipped to power our bright future.”
Beginning this week, residents, property owners and businesses near the proposed energy center location will receive additional information on the project to include details on how they can share feedback with the company.
Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn pointed out that Duke Energy has been an integral part of Anderson County for many years, and the proposed project reflects a step forward in a shared vision for the future.
“The potential benefits for our schools, our local economy, and our broader community are substantial and essential,” said Dunn. “We are excited about what this means for families across the county and look forward to continuing our strong collaboration with Duke Energy to build a brighter future.”
