The Charleston Climate Coalition organized a rally on January 13, 2026, outside Dominion Energy’s North Charleston offices to oppose a proposed massive natural gas plant at the former Old Dominion Coal Site (Canadys Station) in Colleton County along the Edisto River.
Project Proposal
Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper plan a 2,000-megawatt facility, one of the nation’s largest, fueled by a new pipeline through the ecologically vital ACE Basin to meet rising electricity demand and support South Carolina’s growth. The site offers existing industrial infrastructure, strong transmission links, and advanced air-cooling tech using 90% less water than the prior coal plant, minimizing Edisto River impacts.
Environmental Opposition
Groups cite a Harvard Data Science Initiative report estimating 16.43 tons of annual fine particulate matter emissions, raising health risks like heart attacks and pneumonia for over 2 million residents, plus threats to the ACE Basin watershed and climate goals. Critics link demand partly to data centers and urge renewables over 30-40 years of fossil fuel lock-in; Dominion counters with efficiency and necessity for reliability.
Next Steps
The SC Public Service Commission will decide by April 14, 2026, after Dominion’s December 2025 permit filing. This debate ties into Lowcountry environmental and public health concerns you’ve followed amid rapid regional development.
