South Carolina House advances Energy Freedom Act

The South Carolina House of Representatives recently voted unanimously to advance the Energy Freedom Act, a move the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) celebrated.

“The South Carolina House has shown tremendous leadership in passing this much-needed legislation to lower consumers’ electric bills and create new local jobs,” Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA, said. “Now, it’s up to the Senate to quickly follow suit before the state’s burgeoning solar market gets stalled because of unnecessary red tape.”

South Carolina is expected to hit rooftop solar caps in mid-March. Utility-scale solar projects also continue to have issues with connecting to the grid.

“We are running out of time,” Matt Moore, chairman of the Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition and former chair of the South Carolina Republican Party, said. “The arbitrary cap on solar energy in South Carolina is rapidly approaching and could severely damage the state’s free market energy economy. This legislation passed the House with near unanimous support and we need the momentum to continue building in the Senate. Thousands of solar jobs and individual energy freedom are at stake.”

The bill would require the Public Service Commission (PSC) to initiate a new proceeding to review and approve rates and terms provided to large-scale solar facilities; allow large energy consumers to negotiate directly with renewable energy suppliers; eliminate net metering caps and extend the existing residential solar rates for two years until the PSC determines a success program; support increased transparency and competition in long-term utility generation planning; and create a neighborhood community program designed to increase solar access for low-income customers.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.