In recognition of the sixth annual National Clean Energy Week (NCEW), Gov. Henry McMaster issued a proclamation celebrating Sept. 26-30, 2022, as Clean Energy Week in the state of South Carolina. In his proclamation, McMaster recognized the growing importance of clean energy, noting that South Carolina’s four nuclear power plants provided 55 percent of the state’s net electricity generation in 2020 and was the third largest producer of nuclear power in the nation. Last year, McMaster joined more than half of the nation’s governors in issuing proclamations to recognize NCEW in their respective states. “The clean energy sector is a growing part of the economy and has been a key driver of economic growth in the Palmetto State in recent years,” McMaster said in his 2022 proclamation. “Clean energy employed over 41,000 people in South Carolina in 2020, with the number of clean energy jobs growing 6% between 2018 and 2020.” Said Heather Reams, chair of NCEW and president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES): “Across the country, the cost of living continues to rise. It is critical that we take a hard look at the solutions clean energy technologies provide to address America’s most pressing environmental, economic, and national security needs. "The sixth annual NCEW and Policy Makers Symposium connects government officials from both sides of the aisle as well as top industry leaders, researchers, investors, and advocates to discuss how we can make the prospect of a clean energy future a reality, not only in South Carolina but throughout the country.” NCEW began in 2017 as a bipartisan forum to bring together clean energy leaders and advocates across America. Through engaging programming such as the Policy Makers Symposium, the weeklong virtual event celebrates the critical role that clean energy plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously bolstering the nation’s economy and energy independence. |