COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Dozens of Lowcountry residents gathered in Colleton County Monday night to weigh in on a proposed natural gas power plant that could shape how South Carolina powers its future.
The Canadys project — backed by Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy — is designed to meet growing energy demand in one of the fastest-growing states in the country. But the plan is drawing pushback from residents who say the potential environmental and financial costs are too high. Environmental concerns dominated most of the meeting, with several speakers warning the plant could impact air quality and nearby waterways — with effects extending well beyond Colleton County.
“I drove over an hour and a half to be here tonight,” said Ester Araujo, a Charleston-area resident. “This will affect the whole surrounding areas in the Lowcountry.”
Araujo said she felt compelled to speak out even though she doesn’t live near the proposed site, pointing to what she sees as a broader regional impact.
“We have a responsibility to speak up for our entire region, not just our own neighborhoods,” she said.
She and others raised concerns about potential runoff, air emissions, and long-term impacts tied to natural gas development — arguing the state should instead invest in cleaner energy sources.
Cost was another major concern raised during the hearing — especially as Dominion Energy is already considering rate increases. Company leaders acknowledged that the project could affect customer bills.
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“As a result of this plant going into rates rates would increase,” said Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina.
However, Kissam emphasized that those costs are only one part of a larger equation. He said the plant could allow Dominion to retire older coal-fired units, which are less efficient and more expensive to operate, potentially balancing costs over time.
Dominion also pushed back on environmental concerns, arguing the proposed plant would be cleaner and more efficient than existing energy sources. The company says the site itself is not new industrial land, but a previously used “brownfield” location with existing infrastructure — meaning less disruption compared to building on undeveloped land.
Kissam also pointed to the company’s broader environmental efforts, including setting aside hundreds of acres along the Edisto River as part of a conservation area. At the same time, he acknowledged the tension between growth and preservation in South Carolina — but said the company’s responsibility is clear.
“We have an obligation to serve,” Kissam said, pointing to increasing population growth and rising demand for electricity.
He also highlighted the need for reliable energy sources during extreme conditions, particularly in the winter, when solar power is not available and demand is highest.
“Nothing pairs with solar better than natural gas,” he said, describing it as a flexible energy source that can quickly ramp up when needed.
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As questions surfaced about whether the project is tied to future data center growth, Dominion said that is not what is driving demand.
“What’s driving demand for us is not data centers,” Kissam said, adding that even if data centers expanded in the future, this plant alone would not generate enough power to support them.
For many residents, however, the hearing was about making sure their concerns are heard before a decision is made. Monday’s meeting marked one of the first major opportunities for public input in the process. Another hearing is scheduled in Columbia next month, with the South Carolina Public Service Commission expected to make a final decision later this year.