Legislative agenda

A trio of data center bills filed in the Senate

Last year, the governor signed energy legislation that expedited energy projects in the state, most notably the Canady’s natural gas plant. Before signage, the House removed requirements that would protect ratepayers from massive energy infrastructure costs driven up by commercial data centers.   In the absence of these protections and heightened concerns about where and how data centers operate in the...

Neil Wolin

Written by
February 13, 2026

  • A trio of data center bills filed in the Senate

    Last year, the governor signed energy legislation that expedited energy projects in the state, most notably the Canady’s natural gas plant. Before signage, the House removed requirements that would protect ratepayers from massive energy infrastructure costs driven up by commercial data centers.   In the absence of these protections and heightened concerns about where and how data centers operate in the...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    February 13, 2026

  • Advancing South Carolina: SCPC celebrates policy wins in 2025

    Historic progress was made this year in South Carolina on school choice, tax reform, civil liability reform, and deregulation. Many of the issues in our 2025-26 legislative agenda were successfully advanced.   We also had the honor of polling South Carolinians on issues facing the state, and the chance to have those results covered in the media.  
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    December 13, 2025

  • Data centers in South Carolina: The responsible path forward

    Over the past several years, the United States has entered a new technological era marked by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). AI systems store and process massive amounts of data on servers housed in large facilities known as data centers.   States across the country have adopted policies that...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    October 11, 2025

  • The nuclear solution to S.C.’s energy problem

    With the signage of the S.C. Energy Security Act H.3309, utilities are moving fast to put natural gas plant construction plans into action. While the state relies on nuclear reactors for over half of its energy baseload, the failure of V.C. Summer reactors 2 and 3 has oriented utilities away...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    August 22, 2025

  • 2025 Citizen Leadership Awards announced!

    The South Carolina Policy Council is proud to announce the recipients of our inaugural Citizen Leadership Award. These individuals and their organizations were instrumental in leading the fight against oppressive liquor liability laws that were hampering businesses all over the state. Their efforts culminated in the passage of H.3430 during...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    August 04, 2025

  • SCPC mourns the loss of Shirley W. Roe

    The South Carolina Policy Council is deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Shirley W. Roe, whom we deeply respected and to whom we owe an enduring debt of gratitude.
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    July 29, 2025

  • Charleston’s climate lawsuit Is a dead-end for South Carolina

    This article is an opinion piece written by Michael Burris, CEO of the South Carolina Policy Council. Later this month, a Charleston court will hear the case about whether to dismiss a climate lawsuit that never should have been filed.
    Michael Burris

    Written by
    May 27, 2025

  • 2025 Session Recap: Major progress on SCPC backed reforms

    With the 2025 legislative session in the rearview mirror, S.C. General Assembly made major progress on a host of reforms and initiatives championed by the South Carolina Policy Council.  While school choice and tort reform issues dominated headlines, lawmakers advanced several additional priorities, including education, tax reform, deregulation, and energy policy. 
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    May 15, 2025

  • Energy ‘reform’ bills potential shock to ratepayers’ wallets

    Update 5/7/2025: On Wednesday the Senate concurred with the House's 5/1/2025 amendment, striking notification requirements related to eminent domain and all regulatory and incentives language related to data centers. Data centers will no longer be required to enter into their own rate process and contracts and will continue to receive...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    April 01, 2025

  • McMaster proposes SCPC legislative initiatives

    On Wednesday, in a joint session of the House and Senate S.C. Governor Henry McMaster delivered his 2025 State of the State address. The South Carolina Governor notably showed strong support for reforms supported by the SCPC, specifically eliminating income tax, school choice, and civil liability reform.
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    January 30, 2025