Santee Cooper, CCU Installing 13 Chargers On School’s Campus
Like most states, South Carolina has ambitious plans to build out its electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the coming years as part of federal efforts to transition the country toward greater EV adoption. The state’s plans were officially formalized in October 2022 when Gov. Henry McMaster signed an executive order to create EV infrastructure along the state’s highways.
As WLTX reported at the time, McMaster’s order created an interagency group consisting of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS), Department of Commerce, Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW), Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV), Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority.
The order came after the White House approved South Carolina’s EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program.
Under SC NEVI, South Carolina plans to grow its charging network of roughly 918 public charging ports with high-powered chargers along nearly 759 miles of designated EV corridors within the state, according to WLTX. Funding will come from $25.3 million allocated under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Over the course of the federal five-year plan (2022–2026), South Carolina is expected to receive just less than $70 million in federal funds.
Part of the buildout will be done through partnerships between power companies and various stakeholders.
One such collaboration was came to fruition in November 2023, when power provider Santee Cooper and Coastal Carolina University (CCU) unveiled 13 new EV charging stations installed on the school’s campus.
According to a CCU press release, the charging stations were funded through Santee Cooper’s EVolve Grant program, with a $25,000 grant awarded to CCU in January 2023.
Photo Courtesy Coastal Carolina University
“It’s clear that South Carolina is a place where a lot of people are paying attention to our infrastructure, our workforce, our natural resources, and investing in communities and seeing the return on investment, particularly as it relates to clean energy,” Michael T. Benson, CCU president, said in a statement. “We are so pleased with our partnership with Santee Cooper, and we so appreciate their continued support of the university. We continue to improve this campus, to reduce our carbon footprint, and to show by example to our students that we are 100% committed to a sustainable future.”
CCU is located in Conway and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area in the northeastern part of the state. About 230 public charging stations are located between Myrtle Beach, Conway, and North Myrtle Beach, WBTW reported, with more than 30 of these added during the second half of 2023.
Photo Courtesy Coastal Carolina University
“Coastal Carolina is really working hard to be as sustainable as we can currently and long into the future,” Steve Harrison, CCU official, told WBTW. “We’re excited that our students and our faculty and staff are pushing us forward all the time.”
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, providing electricity to 2 million residents across the state. In January 2023, the company announced that it awarded $95,978 through its EVolve Grant program to fund EV projects proposed by the City of Conway and CCU as well as the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, McLeod Health Seacoast, and Elite Home Care.
“Santee Cooper is eager to help our customers and the state of South Carolina support electric vehicle adoption, and this new grant program is one way we’re helping prepare,” Vicky Budreau, chief customer officer, said in a press release.
“Specifically, these grants will improve charging capabilities in our communities and help customers switch to EVs.”
Photo Courtesy Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Through the EVolve Grant program, eligible commercial customers can apply for a grant up to $25,000 for EV projects in the “make-ready” research, education and outreach, EV charging infrastructure, and electric fleet conversion categories. Santee Cooper and independent grant manager Resource Innovations worked together using a competitive scoring process to choose the first five projects that will receive funding through the program.
