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Greenville Business Magazine

The Business Narrative: RFP Process Launched

Jan 23, 2025 09:06AM ● By Donna Walker

Santee Cooper Seeking Proposals to Acquire, Finish V.C. Summer Nuclear Station Expansion

(123rf.com Image)

 

Santee Cooper launched a process seeking proposals to acquire and complete, or propose alternatives, for two partially constructed generating units at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville, South Carolina.

 

Santee Cooper has engaged Centerview Partners LLC to conduct a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking parties interested in acquiring the project and related assets, and potentially completing one or both units or pursuing alternative uses of the assets.

 

Responses will be due to Centerview on May 5, 2025.

 

"We are seeing renewed interest in nuclear energy, fueled by advanced manufacturing investments, AI-driven data center demand, and the tech industry's zero-carbon targets," said President and CEO Jimmy Staton.

 

Staton added, "Considering the long timelines required to bring new nuclear units online, Santee Cooper has a unique opportunity to explore options for Summer Units 2 and 3 and their related assets that could allow someone to generate reliable, carbon emissions-free electricity on a meaningfully shortened timeline."

 

Staton continued: "We appreciate the interest of state leaders in Santee Cooper moving forward with this RFP. Although Santee Cooper has no plans to own or operate those units, this process could help identify another entity with a viable alternative that would produce benefits for our customers, support economic development and provide value to the state of South Carolina."

 

Officials said factors contributing to the utility's decision to launch the RFP process include:

* A need for new generating capacity, driven by rapid growth in data centers, the continued onshoring of advanced manufacturing and the retirement of fossil units.

 

* Significant interest nationally in repowering previously closed or canceled nuclear projects to shorten project timelines. Unit 2 was significantly progressed when the project was canceled.

 

* Federal support for nuclear construction including the availability of tax credits and loan guarantees.

 

Selected V.C. Summer project highlights include:

* Its unique position as the only site in the U.S. that could deliver 2,200 MWs of nuclear capacity on an accelerated timeline.

 

* Its use of the AP1000 technology also used by Southern Company for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which entered service in 2023 and 2024.

 

* Its location within the nuclear security "envelope" of the larger V.C. Summer station site, which was always intended to hold multiple units.

 

* Its access to ample land, water and transmission infrastructure upgrades built to accommodate output from the units.

 

Following years of extensive and costly delays and then bankruptcy by its contractor, Santee Cooper voted to stop construction of Units 2 and 3 in July 2017 and, with majority owner SCE&G (now Dominion Energy South Carolina), abandoned the project.

 

SCE&G transferred its interest in the assets to Santee Cooper in 2018.

Duke Energy Continues to Manage Power Grid Through Sustained Cold Conditions

As prolonged freezing temperatures continue, Duke Energy said it continues executing a detailed plan to manage the power grid as customer demand increases.

 

Customer demand is anticipated to peak on Thursday across the Carolinas.

 

"When we have temperatures this cold for this long, it is important for us to use all of the programs that we have available to us based on the demand that we are seeing on the system. These include operating all available generating assets, offering customer energy-saving programs and purchasing available power," said Ben Harrison, Duke Energy vice president of grid operations - planning and operations.

 

Duke Energy's year-round preparation includes maintaining and investing in the company's power generating assets, real-time analysis, predictive modeling and strengthening the grid to be more resistant to outages during extreme weather events.

 

The company also has a suite of customer programs that include voluntary programs for residential and business customers to reduce energy consumption when needed in exchange for a participation incentive.

 

Duke Energy's set of tools also include the ability to ask customers to voluntarily reduce their energy use during times of highest energy demand.

 

However, the company hasn’t made this request this week. Officials say that in the winter, the peak times are in the early morning hours when it is typically the coldest outside and customers are starting their day.

 

Ways to save energy and money as temperatures drop

* During the winter, reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. The longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save. You can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees per day.

 

* Set your water heater to 120 degrees or less. Water heating is typically the second-biggest user of energy in your home.

 

* Leave drapes or blinds open on the sunny side of the home to allow the sun's rays to warm the house but close them at night to help insulate your home.

 

* Operate ceiling fans in a clockwise direction in the winter to push warm air back down into the room.

 

* Cover drafty windows. Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.

 

* Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

Unified Energy, Energy Network Sign Exclusive Agreement to Offer Custom Energy Solutions for Clients Worldwide

Unified Energy Services, LLC said it has finalized an agreement with Nebraska-based EN Solutions Network, LLC to serve as the company’s exclusive sales and business development partner for electricity and natural gas solutions for customers worldwide.

 

Officials said the agreement enables the two companies to streamline electricity and natural gas strategies, procurement for small, medium and large commercial, manufacturing and industrial companies across competitive and regulated markets worldwide.

 

Based in Houston, Texas, and with offices in Greenville, South Carolina, Mexico City, Mexico, and Monterrey, Mexico, Unified Energy was founded in 2008 and is a full-service energy and utility consulting and procurement company. 

 

The company’s advisors work closely with commercial, industrial, and residential clients across the country to reduce their electricity and natural gas costs and mitigate their energy price risk. 

 

“We are living through a historically volatile energy market, while also enjoying a surge in renewable energy products,” said Michael Harris, CEO of Unified Energy.

 

Harris added, “These market conditions are driving businesses to consider how they can meet their sustainability goals, as well as take advantage of lower prices for a longer amount of time.”

 

Energy Network is an independent sales force that supports lead generation, continuing education and new business opportunities.

 

“We’re excited to be an exclusive partner of the Unified Energy team,” said Kori Lee, CEO at Energy Network. “No broker team is more connected to suppliers around the world than Unified Energy. Their experience in retail energy and the broker space, as well as the wholesale market, puts them in a unique position to procure and manage energy portfolios for clients of all sizes in a wide range of verticals.”

 

Lee added, “By combining our vast business network with Unified Energy’s deep procurement expertise we’re creating the ultimate partnership for our clients to succeed in today’s complex energy markets.”

UBS Announces New Regional Market Leadership in the Southeast U.S.

UBS Wealth Management USA recently announced key organizational changes, including moving its field management structure from two national divisions to four regions.

 

Officials said the new alignment empowers UBS’s field leaders through faster decision-making, enhanced responsiveness to client needs, and greater connectivity with the firm’s full client offering.

 

Julie Fox has been appointed Regional Director for the Southeast.

 

The Southeast Region will be led by the following Market Executives, all of whom will report to Fox:

 

Brendan Graham has been appointed Mid-Atlantic Market Executive. He will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s financial advisors in Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and Maryland (Baltimore and Hunt Valley).

 

Jake Shine has been appointed South Atlantic Market Executive. He will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s financial advisors in Maryland (Bethesda), Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

 

Greg Achten has been appointed South Market Executive. He will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s financial advisors in Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

 

Lane Strumlauf has been appointed Florida Market Executive. He will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s financial advisors in Florida.

 

“Our wealth management business in the US has strong momentum, and thanks to our teams’ hard work, we have a solid foundation on which to deliver our next stage of growth,” Fox said.

 

Officials said the Southeast Region encompasses some of the nation’s fastest growing wealth centers, including Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Charleston, Nashville, Miami, Palm Beach, Naples and Tampa, among others. 

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