Near Jenkinsville, South Carolina, the remains of an unfinished nuclear power plant stand as a stark reminder of a failed energy project. The V.C. Summer nuclear plant expansion was halted in 2017 after years of costly delays and the bankruptcy of its contractor. Now, after nearly seven years, Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility, is looking to revive the project by seeking developers to complete one or both of the partially built reactors.
With increasing interest in nuclear energy, driven by advancements in AI, data centers, and clean energy goals, Santee Cooper believes that resuming construction could be a step toward meeting future electricity demands. If completed, the project could generate 2,200 megawatts of nuclear power—enough to supply electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes.
Customers Still Paying for an Unfinished Project
The V.C. Summer expansion originally had Santee Cooper and South Carolina Gas and Electric (now part of Dominion Energy) as its backers. Before the project was abandoned, the companies had already spent $9 billion. Despite its failure, customers have been paying for the project’s costs over the years, sparking frustration among residents and lawmakers.
In December 2024, state senators introduced a bill urging Santee Cooper to issue a request for proposals (RFP) as soon as possible to complete the unfinished units. The push to finish the plant comes from both financial and energy security concerns, with lawmakers determined not to let billions of dollars go to waste.
Site Still Fit for Construction
Despite years of inactivity, experts say the construction site is still in good condition. In September 2024, the South Carolina Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council, along with Santee Cooper officials, inspected the site and deemed it well-maintained. Their report concluded that it looked more like a facility shut down for a few months rather than several years.
The report also emphasized the urgent need for additional energy sources in South Carolina, particularly with the growing demand for electricity. Experts warn that the state is facing a potential power shortage as industries continue expanding, especially data centers.
The Data Center Boom and Rising Energy Needs
South Carolina has become a hotspot for data centers, thanks to its relatively low electricity rates and business-friendly policies. Companies like Google already have major data centers in the state, and in 2023, Meta (formerly Facebook) announced an $800 million data center in Aiken County.
As artificial intelligence and cloud computing continue to grow, the demand for reliable, large-scale energy sources is increasing. In 2023, the U.S. data center market was valued at $219 billion, and analysts predict it will more than double by 2032. This explosive growth has utilities scrambling to find ways to meet future power needs.
Nuclear Energy’s Comeback
If Santee Cooper’s proposal moves forward, V.C. Summer would be among a few nuclear plants in the U.S. making a comeback. In September 2024, Constellation Energy announced plans to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1 in Pennsylvania, signing a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft. The U.S. Department of Energy also allocated $1.52 billion to revive the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan.
However, V.C. Summer would be the first nuclear project to restart after being left only halfway completed—a unique challenge for any potential investor.
Cost and Completion Challenges
Even if a developer steps in, completing the V.C. Summer expansion will not be easy. The high costs and long construction timelines associated with nuclear projects are significant concerns. For instance, Georgia’s Plant Vogtle expansion, which started in 2009, was initially expected to cost $14 billion and take nine years. However, it wasn’t finished until 2023, with a final price tag exceeding $30 billion.
Eddy Moore, Decarbonization Director at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, described it as “one of the most expensive things ever built on Earth.”
Alternative Energy Sources Under Consideration
While Santee Cooper and Dominion are pushing for nuclear expansion, they are also lobbying for new natural gas plants. They argue that gas is needed to bridge the gap until new nuclear plants come online. However, some experts worry that this approach could lead to unnecessary financial risks for customers, particularly if nuclear projects get abandoned again.
Critics like Moore suggest an alternative approach—incremental investments in solar and battery storage. He argues that smaller, flexible projects would be “financially responsible” and allow the state to adapt to changing energy demands without committing to expensive, long-term projects.
The Future of V.C. Summer
Whether V.C. Summer’s expansion will move forward remains uncertain. The success of the proposal depends on finding a developer willing to take on the financial and technical challenges. Meanwhile, South Carolina faces an urgent need for reliable energy sources as its tech-driven economy continues to grow.
If completed, the project could mark a historic turnaround for one of the state’s most expensive and controversial energy projects. However, if it fails again, it could reinforce skepticism about large-scale nuclear projects and leave customers footing the bill for decades to come.
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