Santee Cooper’s Georgetown plant fined for high emissions | Georgetown Times

GEORGETOWN — Santee Cooper was fined $99,000 by the state’s environmental agency in August for violating emissions standards at its coal-fired plant in western Georgetown County.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control cited the state-owned utility over one of its boilers at the Winyah Generating Station exceeding the allowable limits of sulfur dioxide over a period of more than 130 days in 2021, according to a consent order released by the agency.

Sulfur dioxide is a colorless, reactive gas produced when sulfur-containing fuels such as coal and oil are burned. It can cause breathing problems, harm trees and plants, and reduce visibility, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Fines vary significantly based on the gravity of the violations committed,” DHEC officials said in a statement. “The potential harm to public health and the environment is a key factor in determining civil penalties.”

The 1,260-megawatt plant near Georgetown is equipped with four coal-fired units, with the oldest in service since 1975. Two were to be taken offline this year, with the others expected to operate until the end of 2027.

Santee Cooper officials said the 2021 violation stemmed from a software programming error, which left out a calculation that would normally flag rising emission levels. The Moncks Corner-based utility said it was required to track sulfur dioxide on a per-unit basis and the $99,000 fine has been paid.

“Santee Cooper takes any violation seriously and strives to achieve compliance at all times,” Santee Cooper spokeswoman Mollie Gore said. “We are confident we have addressed the circumstances that led to the 2021 issue. We have created additional tests and controls to ensure compliance with the emissions rule, and we have received DHEC approval to use a different compliance strategy that compiles average station emissions.”

The utility has been fined multiple times by DHEC over the last 18 years in cases involving the Winyah Generating Station and other locations.

In 2005, Winyah and the Jeffries Hydroelectric Station in Moncks Corner were fined $14,500 related to failed particulate matter source tests. Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Two years ago, Winyah, the John S. Rainey Generating Station near Anderson and the Cross Generating Station in Pineville were fined $22,950 for the same issue.

In 2018, Winyah and Cross were fined $8,500 over monitoring systems that DHEC said were not in continuous operation.

Gore said Santee Cooper still plans to retire the Winyah plant in December 2030, but the shutdown is contingent upon finding a source to replace the power produced at the plant.

The utility has proposed replacing Winyah with a natural gas generating station, and that plan is under review by the S.C. Public Service Commission. Gore said hearings are scheduled for later this year and a ruling on the plan is expected by March.