How the Dominion-SCE&G deal could trample property rights

Op-ed written for The State newspaper

View supporting documents

Dominion’s offer to purchase SCANA is a bad deal for the entire state, not just SCE&G customers, who will stay on the hook for the abandoned nuclear plant. Ultimately, this deal could trample property rights and strangle the opportunity to develop an energy mix that supports efficiency and renewables while increasing our long-term commitment to the price volatility and environmental impacts of fossil fuels.

I am convinced that Dominion’s interest in SCANA has to do with only one thing: bringing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline into South Carolina. Read the full op-ed

Sources used to research this op-ed:

• Need: "Santee Cooper CEO Lonnie Carter explains decision to scrap nuclear-related rate hikes," The State (video interview, minute 4:57)
• Need: "SCANA shareholders to bear some costs for abandoned nuclear plant," Charlotte Business Journal

Dominion's intent:

• "Dominion Energy: Base Load Review Act key in SCANA purchase," Aiken Standard
• Dominion's 2015 SEC 10K (Note 3 on p. 89 in the Consolidated Financial Statements, explaining the great potential for gas expansion in SC after they paid a premium for SCANA's transmission system)
• Upstate Forever's Dominion Pipeline Page
• "The Property Rights Disconnect," Spartanburg Herald Journal
• List of RE100 companies
• "REPORT: Fortune 500 Companies Accelerating Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Efforts," Ceres.org
• "IEA director: Solar "on track" to be cheapest source of electricity," Houston Chronicle