The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) has created a green power program called Palmetto Clean Energy (PaCE) for the state. The new program will allow customers of participating investor-owned electrical utilities to purchase green power from their utility on a voluntary basis. PaCE will use the funds to secure electricity derived from renewable sources, such as wind, solar or biomass.
ORS says the mission of PaCE is to encourage the development of renewable energy resources that improve the environment through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Contributions to the program will help provide financial incentives for generators of electricity from renewable sources.
‘We are delighted that PaCE has come to fruition and appreciate the efforts of all involved in making renewable energy more accessible to our state's consumers,’ says Dukes Scott, executive director of ORS. ‘We look forward to watching the program mature and believe it will yield long-term environmental and economic benefits for South Carolina.’
PaCE held its initial board meeting on Aug. 30., and the program is scheduled to begin in January 2008.