Mission accomplished: Palmetto Clean Energy awards grants, exits

Palmetto Clean Energy (PaCE) today announced 23 grants to South Carolina schools and housing facilities, as part of a final round of awards capping the landmark nine-year program.

Since its launch in 2007, PaCE has enabled the production of 5 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy through financial incentives to renewable generators and grants to qualified educational institutions and nonprofit, supportive housing facilities. More than 1.2 million South Carolina customers have had the opportunity to support green energy initiatives through tax-deductible contributions to PaCE. The program also has contributed to the development of solar generation at more than 140 customer sites. PaCE will conclude on Dec. 31, 2016.

“The PaCE program has been a great launching pad for community solar and other significant programs growing renewable energy in our state,” said Bob Long, PaCE Chairman of the Board. “This final round of grants gives us an opportunity to celebrate all that the program has accomplished, while looking toward the future and new programs that have been established in the past nine years. While PaCE is concluding, South Carolina is now on track to be a leader in renewable energy. We want to thank all those who helped sow the first seeds through the PaCE program.”

PaCE is a collaborative effort among SCE&G, Duke Energy, and the Office of Regulatory Staff’s Energy Office. The final grants have been awarded to the following qualified schools and nonprofit, supportive housing facilities:

• House of Hope of the Pee Dee, Florence
• Haven of Rest Rescue Mission
• Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons, Inc.
• The Star Gospel Mission, Inc.
• House of Hope of the Pee Dee, Effingham
• Miracle Hill Ministries, Inc., Spartanburg
• Edgefield County School District (Parker Elementary)
• Edgefield County School District (J.E.T. Middle)
• Edgefield County School District (Johnston Elementary)
• Charleston Orphan House, Inc.
• Midlands Housing Alliance, Inc.
• Edgefield County School District (Strom Thurmond HS)
• Miracle Hill Ministries, Inc. (Renewal for Women)
• The Calvary Home for Children
• Miracle Hill Ministries (Greenville Rescue Mission)
• The Turning Point of SC, Inc.
• Carolina Homeless Veterans
• Pendleton Place, Inc.
• Connie Maxwell Children’s Home

PaCE officials encourage current individual financial contributors to participate in one of SCE&G’s or Duke Energy’s renewable energy programs. More information on SCE&G initiatives can be found online at www.sceg.com/communitysolar. Visit www.duke-energy.com/home/products/renewable-energy for more information about Duke Energy’s solar and other renewable programs.

About PaCE

Palmetto Clean Energy is a nonprofit renewable energy program designed to encourage the development of renewable energy resources that improve the environment through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. PaCE is a collaborative effort among Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, and South Carolina Electric & Gas, working with the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff and its Energy Office to provide more than 1.2 million South Carolina customers with an opportunity to support green energy initiatives through tax-deductible contributions. These contributions are collected by the utilities and distributed to PaCE in their entirety. For more information, visit www.palmettocleanenergy.org.