(Georgetown, SC) – The Gullah Geechee Leadership Institute (GGLI) released a letter today signed by 20 South Carolina NAACP branches and African American church leaders endorsing a sale of Santee Cooper.
“Santee Cooper is known for over a decade’s worth of missteps, debt and failed projects that have cost ratepayers millions,” reads the letter. “We urge the General Assembly to sell Santee Cooper.”
Said GGLI Lead Advocate James L. Felder, “We are united in support of ending the Santee Cooper debacle now. Santee Cooper’s debt is an albatross that threatens to drag us down and burden our community for generations. We say it is not acceptable for South Carolina’s marginalized communities to bear the brunt of Santee Cooper’s legacy of mismanagement.”
Examples of Santee Cooper’s mismanagement cited in the joint letter include:
- The failed VC Sumer nuclear plant, which contributed to Santee Cooper’s near-$7 billion debt
- The failed Pee Dee Coal Plant costing $372 million and continuing millions in upkeep
- Lack of diversity and inclusion in its executive staff
“Their blunders and mistakes are numerous, and we have waited years for solutions and resolutions that never happened,” the letter states.
It’s time for South Carolina to move forward. Santee Cooper is broken and cannot be reformed. The General Assembly has the opportunity to fix the problem, by selling Santee Cooper, and we all call on our elected representatives to make the right choice for our community and South Carolina.
James L. Felder, GGLI Lead Advocate
Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce President Marilyn Hemingway said, “The small business community, especially those serving minority and marginalized communities need affordable, reliable energy to help keep their lights on and doors open for business. We applaud the leadership of these 20 NAACP branches, and our religious leaders, for coming together to support a sale of Santee Cooper.”
Said Felder, “It’s time for South Carolina to move forward. Santee Cooper is broken and cannot be reformed. The General Assembly has the opportunity to fix the problem, by selling Santee Cooper, and we all call on our elected representatives to make the right choice for our community and South Carolina.”
