Local Utilities: Palmetto Clean Energy Program

The Palmetto Clean Energy (PaCE) Program, a green-power program designed to encourage the use of renewable energy in South Carolina, currently offers premium payments for electricity generated by customer-owned, grid-tied solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and small-scale hydropower systems. A collaborative effort among Duke Energy, Progress Energy, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, the South Carolina Energy Office and the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff created PaCE in 2007, and the program was launched in April 2008. Premium payments supplement utility payments provided under renewable generator-utility power purchase agreements.* Prospective generators should contact PaCE to find out the current requirements. One block of green power costs $4 and supports approximately 100 kWh of renewable energy generation.

PaCE funding comes from the customers of participating utilities who voluntarily choose to support the program through an additional charge on their monthly utility bills. Of the $4, $3 goes to the generators and $1 goes to PaCE for marketing the program. The utilities collect these customer contributions and remit the funds to PaCE, a non-profit corporation, to administer the program. All PaCE approvals of renewable generator applications, and premium payments, are subject to sufficient funding. This program is modeled on a similar program -- NC GreenPower -- in neighboring North Carolina.

* Contact the South Carolina Energy Office or a participating utility to determine the current types of generators supported by this program. Payments provided through power purchase agreements to renewable generators depend on the time of day and season; in general, they are highest at peak hours during the summer months. These rate payments vary by utility, as do the associated administrative fees and/or other charges imposed.