South Carolina is an energy leader

OPINION:

In the first 15 months of President Donald Trump’s second term, he has skillfully pursued the policy of Peace Through Strength, rightfully recognizing that our energy infrastructure is the backbone of America both at home and abroad. I am grateful that South Carolina is uniquely positioned to lead the next chapter of America’s energy future, an industry critical to economic growth, national security, American competitiveness, and jobs.

With a strong commitment to nuclear energy, which harnesses the power of atom-splitting to generate massive amounts of reliable, carbon-free electricity, South Carolina is committed to providing the steady baseload power that modern economies depend on.

Nuclear power supplies 60% of the Palmetto State’s electricity, reflecting decades of investment in highly skilled workers, a robust safety culture and long-term planning to ensure reliable, affordable power for homes and businesses.

Last year, state-owned utility company Santee Cooper approved a proposal to move forward to complete power reactors at V.C. Summer sites in Jenkinsville, bringing roughly 2,200 megawatts of energy, strengthening grid resilience, and supporting long-term economic growth.

With Brookfield Asset Management as a private-sector partner and Westinghouse’s proven technology at the core, South Carolina has assembled the support and expertise needed to deliver this increased source of power.

The future of nuclear energy is also being shaped by advanced technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors. These next-generation systems offer the promise of greater flexibility, lower upfront costs and faster deployment. SMRs can be built in factories and assembled on-site, reducing construction risk and improving efficiency. Microreactors, smaller still, can provide resilient power for military installations, rural communities and critical infrastructure.

In Aiken, South Carolina, the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative is a critical hub for innovation. Situated near the Savannah River Site a longstanding center of nuclear expertise the Collaborative is bringing together industry, academia and government to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced reactors.

Few places in America can match the Savannah River Site’s combination of available land, highly skilled talent and existing infrastructure, making it a natural home for the development of small modular reactors. As the only member of Congress to have worked at the Savannah River Site, I am grateful for the positive impact the Site has had and will have on local communities in South Carolina and Georgia, and on American national security.

Gov. Henry McMaster and the South Carolina General Assembly are committed to building the workforce, strengthening supply chains and ensuring that the next generation of energy technologies are designed, manufactured and deployed right in South Carolina.

The South Carolina Energy Security Act passed last year. It streamlines permitting processes for new power generation, paving the way for affordable, reliable electricity produced in the state. State utilities responded quickly with two planned large natural gas projects one involving Duke Energy and another featuring a joint venture between Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy that are now advancing swiftly through the approval process.

Successful apprenticeship programs across the state are building a highly skilled workforce that will be essential for supporting large-scale projects. By investing in advanced manufacturing today, South Carolina is creating a strong foundation for long-term economic growth tomorrow.

President Trump, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission David Wright a South Carolinian and ] National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Brandon Williams, are working alongside House and Senate Republicans to make American energy independent, reliable and secure. With the passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, Republicans have continued their efforts to reduce regulations, expand freedom, and promote pro-growth policies, creating jobs.

As adversaries like war criminal Vladimir Putin, the Chinese Communist Party and the Iranian Regime seek opportunities to undermine our electric grid, policies that maintain system reliability are rightfully prioritized at both the state and federal level.

Irresponsible Obama and Biden era mandates caused America to lose its edge in the energy industry, but President Trump knows that energy independence protects American families while also creating jobs.

• Joe Wilson is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives serving South Carolina’s 2nd District.