South Carolina Energy Office Discusses Energy Resilience at SCCEBA Conference

As extreme weather events grow increasingly severe and frequent, energy resilience becomes a higher priority for business, industry, and government. On Thursday, November 7, 2019, the Office of Regulatory Staff- Energy Office (Energy Office) moderated a panel on “Driving Economic Resilience through Clean Energy” at the South Carolina Clean Energy Conference in Columbia, SC.

Energy Office Deputy Director Catherine Reed discussed how entities across South Carolina are already taking steps to adapt to these extreme weather events and their associated economic and societal impacts and additional efforts are needed to improve our state’s energy resilience. The US Department of Energy’s Southeast Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP TAP) gave an overview of resources available to support resiliency efforts.

Two entities presented their own resiliency efforts, both of whom used energy performance contracting as a tool to increase their energy efficiency and provide renewable power options:

1. Greg Palko with Ameresco and Richard Pierce with Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island
2. Christine von Kolnitz with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

Additional conference sessions discussed energy policy and regulatory changes, clean energy business solutions, and electric vehicle policies.

Visit the Energy Office website to learn more about energy performance contracts, technical assistance, and funding options.