Growing South Carolina's nuclear power source

Friday, 24 October 2008

Page 3 of 3 The other hurdle comes wrapped in a package of economic benefits. SCANA’s Yanity believes that the construction phase would create 3,000-4,000 jobs. Tiffany Harrison, a spokeswoman for the Fairfield County Economic Development office, said the county has a huge shortage of skilled construction workers, such as welders. “We are pulling together our partners to see what can we do to start feeding people into the pipeline to construct this facility,” she said. “We want to find as many local people as we can.” Friends of the Earth’s Clements wonders where all these workers will come from in a county with a relatively small population — around 24,000. He also wonders, “When the construction is over, they leave. SCE&G needs to give public proof they will be hiring local people,” he said. Upon completion of construction, the plant would create 800-1,000 full-time skilled jobs. Harrison said SCANA is working with technical colleges statewide to create a two-year degree program for reactor operators. Central S.C. Alliance data indicates power plant operators earn about $58,530 per year. While per capita income in Fairfield County was $22,524 in 2004, according to the Central S.C. Alliance, Harrison said skilled welders are currently starting at $15-16 per hour. “This is a big economic driver,” said Yanity, “not only for Fairfield, but for the region.” According to data provided by SCE&G, the company currently pays the county more than $19 million in property taxes for the Summer plant. “It is a huge capital investment that will have a major impact in terms of tax revenue — but what an opportunity for our citizens to get skills they can use elsewhere, in other jobs,” Harrison said. Other hurdles stand in the way. Yanity said that, although SCE&G recently completed its Combined Construction and Operation License application with the regulatory commission, the utility also filed an application with the S.C. Public Service Commission requesting permission to increase its rates by 2.5% through 2019, allowed under last year’s Base Load Review Act. “It will be a ‘pay as you go’ while we go through the construction process,” Yanity said. The Public Service Commission and Friends of the Earth protest the measure, but Yanity said it will save consumers $1 billion over the life of the project. “If we pay construction costs now, it will save the customer more than paying interest on a lump sum when the reactor is built.” When SCE&G received the go-ahead in September to begin the site preparation, which includes the relocation of a railroad spur, the Public Service Commission voted unanimously to grant permission with the understanding that SCE&G would pay for the work. Ratepayers would not be charged for the project if the reactors are not approved. Harrison said Fairfield County is acting under the assumption that the reactors will get the necessary approvals. “We are pleased that they have chosen to put them here,” she said. “They’ve been great corporate citizens since they’ve been here.” << Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>