Duke Energy proposes new natural gas plant in Anderson County
Duke Energy proposes new natural gas plant in Anderson County
This is the first request by a power company to build a power plant in the state in a decade.
Updated: 10:00 AM EDT Jun 9, 2025
WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. IT WAS A DEADLY WEEKEND ON UPSTATE ROADS. SEVEN PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES IN VEHICLE CRASHES, THREE OF THEM BEING IN A DEADLY WRONG-WAY CRASH IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY. TROOPERS SAY IT HAPPENED ABOUT 1215 SUNDAY MORNING ON I-85, NEAR MILE MARKER 75. THEY SAY A HONDA WAS DRIVING THE WRONG WAY IN THE NORTHBOUND LANES WHEN IT HIT A TOYOTA, THEN AN SUV. BOTH DRIVERS OF THE CARS DIED, AS WELL AS A PASSENGER IN THE TOYOTA. THE CORONER IDENTIFIED ONE OF THE VICTIMS AS 36 YEAR OLD NICHOLAS YOUNG OF MONCKS CORNER. THE DRIVER AND FIVE PASSENGERS IN THE SUV WERE NOT INJURED. STICK WITH WYFF NEWS FOUR AS WE LEARN MORE. MEANWHILE, AN ARSON INVESTIGATION CONTINUES THIS MORNING IN GREENVILLE COUNTY AFTER THE PINK BUILDING KNOWN AS THE TRAP CHURCH CAUGHT FIRE FRIDAY MORNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE FLAMES WERE CONTAINED TO THE BACK OF THE NOW ABANDONED BUILDING. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS ARSON BECAUSE OF IT ORIGINATING IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE BUILDING HAS SINCE BEEN TORN DOWN. A FORMER LIMESTONE UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE HAS FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SCHOOL, AND IN THAT LAWSUIT, IT SAYS THE UNIVERSITY DIDN’T GIVE ENOUGH OF A HEADS UP BEFORE LAYING OFF WORKERS DUE TO THE UNIVERSITY CLOSURE. THE SUIT STATES THAT A GROUP OF 478 EMPLOYEES WERE TOLD ON APRIL 17TH THEY WOULD BE LET GO ON APRIL 30TH. THE LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT UNDER THE WARREN ACT, WHICH IS A LAW THAT REQUIRES MOST EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE A 60 DAY ADVANCE NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES ABOUT A COMPANY’S CLOSING OR MASS LAYOFFS. TO READ THE FULL LAWSUIT, YOU CAN HEAD TO WYFF4.COM. A NEW 13TH CIRCUIT SOLICITOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED AFTER WALT WILKINS RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT. GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER HAS APPOINTED CINDY KRICK TO SERVE IN THE POSITION. SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TREY GOWDY FROM 2011 TO 2019, AND SPENT MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS AS AN ASSISTANT SOLICITOR IN SOUTH CAROLINA SEVENTH CIRCUIT SOLICITOR’S OFFICE. WILKINS HAD MORE THAN A YEAR LEFT IN HIS TERM, THE REMAINDER OF WHICH WILL FILL OUT. COMMUNITY LEADERS IN ANDERSON COUNTY ARE COMING TOGETHER WITH A NEW PLAN TO CONFRONT HOMELESSNESS HEAD ON. PHOENIX JOINS US LIVE THIS MORNING FROM DOWNTOWN ANDERSON WITH ALL THE DETAILS. TANIQUA. GOOD MORNING, ERIN. LEADERS SAY A MAJOR CONCERN THEY’RE SEEING IS THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE HERE DOWNTOWN. ANDERSON. SO TO ADDRESS THAT, THEY’VE CREATED A PLAN CALLED A. HOMELESSNESS WHITE PAPER. THE 18 PAGE DOCUMENT, LED BY NEWSPRING CHURCH, OUTLINES DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS. THE FINDINGS SHOW ANDERSON COUNTY HAS 296 HOMELESS ADULTS, 78% ARE UNSHELTERED. IT ALSO SHOWS ANDERSON NEEDS 140 SHELTER BEDS, BUT CURRENTLY HAS LESS THAN 50 COMPARED TO SIMILAR COUNTIES. ANDERSON HAS THE FEWEST BEDS PER CAPITA IN THE MOST UNSHELTERED PEOPLE. THE REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW TODAY ON UNITED WAY’S WEBSITE FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN ANDERSON, TANIQUA. PENNIX WIFE NEWS FOR TANIQUA. THANK YOU. WHILE THE SUMMER HEAT CAN BE FUN, EXPERTS SAY YOU SHOULD ALSO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT DEVELOPING SKIN CANCER. ISABELLE MARK JOINS US LIVE THIS MORNING COMMUNITY PARK WITH SOME TIPS TO STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER. ISABELLE. HEY, AARON. GOOD MORNING. EXPERTS SAY THAT SUNBURN CAN TAKE UP TO FIVE HOURS TO ACTUALLY SHOW. SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE EXPERIENCING ONE, THEY SAY YOU SHOULD MOVE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE LIGHT EXPOSURE. YOU CAN WEAR ULTRAVIOLET PROTECTION FACTOR OR UPF CLOTHING. RASHGUARD SWIMSUITS, WIDE BRIMMED HATS, ALL TO KEEP YOU PROTECTED FROM THE SUN, OR APPLY BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE HEADING OUTDOORS. THAT WAY, IT HAS TIME TO ABSORB, AND YOU’LL WANT TO REAPPLY THAT EVERY 2 TO 3 HOURS. NOW, IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE A SEVERE SUNBURN, EXPERTS SAY YOU SHOULD GO TO A DOCTOR. REPORTING LIVE IN GREENVILLE, ISABELLE MARAK. WIFE NEWS FOUR. ISABEL. THANK YOU. AND BEFORE YOU FIRE UP THE GRILL THIS SUMMER, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP FOOD SAFETY IN MIND AS WELL. EXPERTS SAY THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO HELP PREVENT FOOD POISONING IS BY WASHING YOUR HANDS BEFORE HANDLING ANY FOOD. THEY RECOMMEND KEEPING RAW MEAT AWAY FROM PRODUCE DURING PREPARATION TO AVOID CROSS-CONTAMINATION. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU’RE CHOPPING UP VEGETABLES, DON’T USE THE SAME CUTTING BOARD OR KNIFE FOR THE RAW MEAT. THEY ALSO ADVISE RAW MEAT TO BE THOROUGHLY COOKED. RED MEATS LIKE STEAK, ROASTS OR CHOPS SHOULD REACH 145 DEGREES AND THEN REST FOR THREE MINUTES. AS WE ENTER THE SUMMER AND WE’RE HAVING THOSE PICNICS, WE’RE HAVING THOSE BARBECUES, WE DO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST SAFE FOOD PREPARATION, BUT SAFE FOOD. WE’LL SAY HANDLING AND STORAGE. SO YOU REALLY DON’T WANT THINGS SITTING OUT ON A PICNIC TABLE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IF THEY’RE SITTING THERE, THAT’S GOING TO ALLOW THE CHANCE FOR BACTERIA TO START TO PROPAGATE. AND THAT COULD INCREASE THE RISK FOR PEOPLE GETTING SICK FROM IT. WHILE ANYONE CAN GET FOOD POISONING, THERE ARE CERTAIN GROUPS CONSIDERED HIGHER RISK. THEY INCLUDE YOUNG CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN, THE ELDERLY, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED. NORTH CAROLINA LEADERS SAY CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK WILL REOPEN LATER THIS MONTH. ACCESS TO THE PARK HAS BEEN LIMITED SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2024, OFFICIALS SAY HELENE DAMAGED THE PARK’S ENTRANCE BRIDGE. THEY SAY NCDOT RECENTLY COMPLETED WORK ON A TEMPORARY BRIDGE AND HAS ALSO REPAIRED THE PARK’S ROADS. CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK AND CHIMNEY ROCK ATTRACTION WILL REOPEN ON JUNE 27TH, AND OFFICIALS SAY HOURS AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON. ALL RIGHT, GET READY FOR GLORIOUS STRAWBERRY MOON THIS WEEK. THE FINAL FULL MOON OF SPRING, KNOWN AS THE STRAWBERRY MOON, WILL HAPPEN EARLY ON WEDNESDAY, BUT SCIENTISTS SAY THE BEST TIME TO SEE IT WILL BE THE NIGHT BEFORE. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 10TH. JUNE STRAWBERRY MOON WILL BE THE LOWEST FULL MOON OF THE YEAR FOR STARGAZERS NORTH OF THE EQUATOR, AND THE STRAWBERRY MOON IS NAMED FOR WILD STRAWBERRIES THAT RIPEN THIS TIME OF YEAR. SO PARELLA THE MOON IS USUALLY UP HIGH, IT’S DOWN LOW. WE GOT TO GET IT BEFORE WE’RE TOO SLOW RIGHT? OH MY GOODNESS. IT MUST BE EARLY IN THE WEEK. YOU GOT A LOT OF ENERGY. LOVE IT, LOVE IT. HEY GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. HERE’S A LIVE LOOK FROM PARIS MOUNTAIN. I LOVE THIS VIEW BECAUSE YOU GET TO SEE SOME OF THE HOUSES HERE ON PARIS MOUNTAIN. THINK ABOUT THE VIEW. THEY’RE JUST ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. IT’S A NICE START TO THE DAY. IT IS PRETTY HOT. IT IS PRETTY MUGGY OUT THERE AND IT WILL BE EVEN MORE SO AS WE GO A LITTLE BIT LATER INTO THE DAY. LET’S TAKE A LOOK. HERE COMES OUR COLD FRONT OUT TO THE WEST. IT’S NOT REALLY GOING TO DO A LOT TO IMPACT US. IT IS GOING TO BRING SOME CLOUDS TO US BY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENTUALLY SOME THUNDERSTORMS AND SOME DOWNPOURS BY TONIGHT. SO GET PREPARED. SOME OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE THOSE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND EVEN SOME STRONG WINDS ONCE AGAIN. AGAIN, FOR MOST OF US, IT WILL HAPPEN LATE THIS AFTERNOON. MOST OF US WILL COME TONIGHT. WE’LL TAKE A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT THAT PART OF YOUR FORECAST COMING UP IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE. BUT FIRST, LET’S GET IT OVER TO THE EVER ENERGETIC, ENERGETIC ERIN WHO’S GOT A LOOK AT THE ROADS. HOW’S IT LOOKING OUT? PARELLA? I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS, BUT IT’S 649. IT’S THAT TYPICAL PELHAM ROAD SLOWDOWN. THIS IS I-85 AT PELHAM ROAD. YOU CAN SEE THE NORTHBOUND LANES THERE. THE THREE THAT ARE DEFINITELY SLOW THIS MORNING. IF YOU’RE TRAVELING OUT IN THE NEXT FIVE, TEN, 15 MINUTES, THIS IS THAT POINT IN THE MORNING WHERE I RECOMMEND YOU DO TEN, 20 MINUTES EARLY JUST TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT. AND IT’S NOT JUST THE NORTHBOUND SIDE EITHER. WE’RE STARTING TO SEE THE SLOWDOWNS ON THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE AGAIN, VERY TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF MORNING, PARTICULARLY DURING A WORK WEEK DAY LIKE A MONDAY, AS PEOPLE GET READY TO HEAD BACK TO WORK. THAT TRAVEL TIME REFLECTS THAT. IT’S IN THE YELLOW NOW 85 SOUTHBOUND. IT’S USUALLY AT SIX MINUTES, IT’S AT TEN MINUTES. BUT AIRPORT ON WOODRUFF ROAD IS SLOWING DOWN. SO I RECOMMEND AT THIS POINT YOU LEAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR THAT AS WELL. THE TWO THAT LOOK FANTASTIC THOUGH. 26 EASTBOUND FROM I-240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY IS USUALLY 12 MINUTES, ACTUALLY DOWN TO 11 MINUTES. THAT’S GOOD NEWS AND SAME STORY WITH 385 NORTHBOUND FAIRVIEW ROAD TO DOWNTOWN. WE’VE BEEN SEEING THAT ONE AT 14 MINUTES LATELY. IT’S IN THE GREEN AT 13 MINUTES. IF YOUR TRAVELS TAKE YOU THAT WAY, THAT’S SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU ON YOUR MONDAY. A POWERFUL TRIBUTE WAS UNVEILED SATURDAY, HONORING A BELOVED EDUCATOR WHO SHAPED GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS IN GREENVILLE. JAY WILBUR WALKER WAS HONORED AT THE GREENVILLE TRANSIT AUTHORITY BUILDING, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY THE WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL, AN ALL BLACK SCHOOL CREATED TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING, AND MR. WALKER WAS THE PRINCIPAL. ALUMNI SAY IT TRANSFORMED LIVES, AND THEY WANTED TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE MAN WHO LED THE CHARGE. ALTHOUGH THE SCHOOL ONLY OPERATED FOR NINE YEARS, THEY SAY WALKER’S IMPACT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. TODAY IN ANDERSON, KIDS CAN WORK ON THEIR WRESTLING SKILLS, AND IT’S ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE. WE CAN WRESTLE IS HOLDING A KIDS WRESTLING CAMP THIS WEEK. IT’S BEING HELD AT 3212 B DOCTOR MLK JUNIOR BOULEVARD IN ANDERSON. THE FIRST SESSIONS FROM 3 TO 5 P.M., AND THE SECOND SESSION IS FROM 5 TO 7 P.M. THE CAMP WILL RUN UNTIL FRIDAY, AND THE COST TO GO TO THE CAMP JUST ONE CANNED GOOD PER CHILD. I HOPE TO SEE 100,000 PEOPLE JUST, YOU KNOW, AS MANY KIDS AS WANT TO SHOW UP. AS MANY PARENTS WANT TO SHOW UP. SOME OF MY FORMER WRESTLERS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SHOW UP AND, YOU KNOW, HELP OUT COACHING IF THEY CAN. YOU KNOW, WE MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS GOOD AND UNDER CONTROL, BUT I HOPE IT TURNS OUT REALLY, REALLY BIG SO THAT WE CAN GET A WHOLE BUNCH MORE CANS. THE MORE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP, THE MORE PEOPLE GET FED. AND IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT THIS COMING WEEK, DON’T WORRY. THERE ARE ALSO HOLDING THE CAMP ON JUNE 16TH THROUGH JUNE 20TH. THE GREENVILLE ZOO WELCOMED A NEW ADDITION OVER THE WEEKEND. AUTUMN. THE GIRAFFE GAVE BIRTH JUST AFTER 6:30 P.M. ON SATURDAY. AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE HERE, THAT BABY IS ALERT AND STANDING. IN FACT, AUTUMN HAD SIX BABY CALVES WHILE AT THE GREENVILLE ZOO. A MEDICAL EXAM WILL SOON ANNOUNCE ITS SEX, ITS HEIGHT AND ITS WEIGHT. AND THIS IS INTERESTING. BACKGROUND. AUTUMN WAS ORIGINALLY TRANSFERRED TO THE GREENVILLE ZOO FROM BOSTON BACK IN 2007. SO LET’S TAKE A LIVE LOOK RIGHT NOW FROM THE GREENVILLE ZOO. SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT BABY GIRAFFES. I’LL GET TO THOSE IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT I’M LOOKING FOR THE DRAFT. SHE’S PROBABLY TAKING CARE OF HER BABY. YOU KNOW HOW IT IS WITH NEW BABIES. YOU GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM EVERY FEW HOURS. GOT TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE GETTING ENOUGH TO EAT. SHE’S LIKE, I’M OUT OF THIS CAMERA FOR RIGHT NOW. BUT TALKING ABOUT THE DRAFT BABY DRAFTS CAN STAND AND WALK WITHIN 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR AFTER BIRTH. HOW WILD IS THAT? AND THEN THEY CAN RUN WITHIN HOURS. MAYBE THEY’RE DOING FIVE K’S WITHIN AN HOURS. WHO KNOWS? NEWBORN GIRAFFES ARE ALREADY AT BIRTH, S
Duke Energy proposes new natural gas plant in Anderson County
This is the first request by a power company to build a power plant in the state in a decade.
Updated: 10:00 AM EDT Jun 9, 2025
Duke Energy announced Monday that it intends to submit an application to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina for approval of a 1,400-megawatt natural gas combined cycle generating facility with hydrogen capability in Anderson County. This is the first request by a power company to build new generation in the state in a decade, and it comes after the South Carolina General Assembly passed the South Carolina Energy Security Act.According to the bill text, the goal is to improve the energy grid in South Carolina and the act focuses on utility regulation, renewable energy advancement and consumer protections. “By enacting the S.C. Energy Security Act, Gov. McMaster and the Legislature have provided a comprehensive path forward for energy policy that will guide our state’s continued success for many years to come,” Duke Energy South Carolina President Tim Pearson said. “Committing to building this modern energy facility in Anderson County is a critical piece of that strong energy future for the region.” Duke Energy said as part of the company’s responsibility to serve nearly 860,000 customers across 30 South Carolina counties, it needs to build a large amount of new generation quickly to keep up with the population growth. “South Carolina’s continued prosperity depends on reliable, forward-looking energy projects like this one,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a news release. “We are grateful to have a committed partner like Duke Energy taking the necessary steps to meet our state’s rising energy demand and ensure we are well-equipped to power our bright future.” The company said it expects to submit the application to the PSCSC later this year. If approved, construction will most likely begin in summer 2027 and could be expected to serve customers by early 2031. The plan is to construct the facility on nearly 200 acres located on Highway 81 south near Trye Temper Road in Anderson County. Duke said the site would use existing transmission infrastructure nearby to build the facility, and it would significantly reduce the need for large amounts of water. The company also said this week that residents and property owners near the proposed energy location will receive additional information.You can read all about the proposal here.
Duke Energy announced Monday that it intends to submit an application to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina for approval of a 1,400-megawatt natural gas combined cycle generating facility with hydrogen capability in Anderson County.
This is the first request by a power company to build new generation in the state in a decade, and it comes after the South Carolina General Assembly passed the South Carolina Energy Security Act.
According to the bill text, the goal is to improve the energy grid in South Carolina and the act focuses on utility regulation, renewable energy advancement and consumer protections.
“By enacting the S.C. Energy Security Act, Gov. McMaster and the Legislature have provided a comprehensive path forward for energy policy that will guide our state’s continued success for many years to come,” Duke Energy South Carolina President Tim Pearson said. “Committing to building this modern energy facility in Anderson County is a critical piece of that strong energy future for the region.”
Duke Energy said as part of the company’s responsibility to serve nearly 860,000 customers across 30 South Carolina counties, it needs to build a large amount of new generation quickly to keep up with the population growth.
“South Carolina’s continued prosperity depends on reliable, forward-looking energy projects like this one,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a news release. “We are grateful to have a committed partner like Duke Energy taking the necessary steps to meet our state’s rising energy demand and ensure we are well-equipped to power our bright future.”
The company said it expects to submit the application to the PSCSC later this year.
If approved, construction will most likely begin in summer 2027 and could be expected to serve customers by early 2031.
The plan is to construct the facility on nearly 200 acres located on Highway 81 south near Trye Temper Road in Anderson County.
Duke Energy
Duke said the site would use existing transmission infrastructure nearby to build the facility, and it would significantly reduce the need for large amounts of water. The company also said this week that residents and property owners near the proposed energy location will receive additional information.
You can read all about the proposal here.