Introduced

February 27, 2024

 

S. 912

 

Introduced by Senator Davis

 

S. Printed 02/27/24--H.

Read the first time February 27, 2024

 

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A joint Resolution

 

TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE SC NEXUS FOR ADVANCED RESILIENT ENERGY AND TO ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUED GLOBAL LEADERSHIP TO REDUCE THE STATE'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WHILE ENHANCING THE ECONOMIC OUTPUT.

 

Whereas, hurricanes and other natural disasters have had adverse impacts on the State of South Carolina and the nation, thereby drastically affecting various segments of the South Carolina economy; and

 

Whereas, the State has become a national leader in reducing its environmental impacts while enhancing its economy through advanced manufacturing and continued growth of the state's robust tourism sector; and

 

Whereas, the State has recently been recognized as the fastest growing state in the nation according to U.S. Census Bureau data because of its rich culture, beautiful landscapes, robust economy, and abundant job opportunities; and

 

Whereas, the state's rapid growth has been facilitated by conservation of its uniquely beautiful ecology, reduction of environmental impacts, and a favorable business climate; and

 

Whereas, the State has become a hub for advanced manufacturing, including four major electric vehicle manufacturers and what will be the nation's largest EV battery recycling facility, as well as many other clean industries; and

 

Whereas, the State, through the SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC Nexus), a broad consortium of higher education institutions, technical colleges, numerous state agencies, the Savannah River National Laboratory, economic development alliances, community organizations, nonprofits and private companies, including electric utilities, received the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration's (EDA) designation as one of thirty-one Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs); and

 

Whereas, the Tech Hub designation allows the South Carolina Department of Commerce, on behalf of SC Nexus, to apply for EDA's Phase 2 funding - to leverage and accelerate existing efforts - available through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which authorized 10 billion dollars over five years to implement the Tech Hubs and appropriated 500 million dollars that the United States Department of Commerce has utilized for the thirty-one designated Tech Hubs to apply for grants of between forty-five and seventy-five million dollars (Phase 2 funding); and

 

Whereas, the Phase 2 application on behalf of SC Nexus will include a focus on projects that will enable the commercialization of distributed energy resources (DERs) which are defined as small-scale generation, storage, and demand management assets that closely interconnect electricity supply and demand; and

 

Whereas, DERs create many transformational opportunities for the electric grid technology, including, but not limited to: enabling rapid growth of renewable power generation; increasing grid efficiency by reducing grid modernization costs; bolstering grid resiliency for manufacturers and communities; driving economic stability through the creation of workforce and entrepreneurship opportunities for those most impacted by energy transition; and

 

Whereas, development of DERs will support the development and commercialization of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), which are defined as advanced nuclear reactors that produce nuclear power and have a power capacity of up to 400 megawatts per reactor; and

 

Whereas, South Carolina has been a recognized global leader in the research, development, and deployment of nuclear power generation for at least the past fifty years and is ideally established to be a leader in the development and commercialization of SMRs; and

 

Whereas, the designation of SC Nexus as a Tech Hub aligns with the goal of developing and commercializing SMRs as well as other advanced energy, energy storage, and grid resilience technologies in order to revitalize domestic manufacturing, create good-paying American jobs, strengthen American supply chains, and accelerate clean industries to ensure a prosperous future for the Palmetto State; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, through a newly created office as set forth in this joint resolution, shall continue to lead SC Nexus to target innovation and efforts geared toward commercializing energy generation, distribution, storage, and grid resilience. Now, therefore,

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  This joint resolution must be known and may be cited as the "SC Nexus Plan for Global Leadership in Advanced Resilient Energy".

 

SECTION 2.  As used in this resolution:

    (1) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

    (2) "Development" means identifying any governmental barriers to application of advanced energy generation, storage, and grid resilience, and potential opportunities to address these barriers.

    (3) "Developmental approval" means an approval issued by the State, an agency, or subdivision of the State, regardless of the form of the approval, that is for the development and application of advanced energy generation, storage, and grid resilience, including:

       (a) permitting of advanced energy generation, storage, and grid resilience technology;

       (b) identification of adverse tax consequences and potential federal opportunities to encourage private sector investment; and

       (c) any environmental permit issued by the Department of Health and Environmental Control or the Department of Environmental Services.

 

SECTION 3.  To facilitate and implement the SC Nexus Plan for Global Leadership in Advanced Resilient Energy, the SC Nexus office is hereby created within the department with such power and authority necessary to take such actions necessary for the State to achieve the following goals:

    (A) development of deployable and exportable electricity technologies that accelerate manufacturing of energy components and materials, innovate new battery technologies, and efficiently integrate advanced electricity sources into the grid;

    (B) acceleration of high-quality job growth for a diverse workforce, with multiple education and training pathways through South Carolina's broad education ecosystem;

    (C) closure of infrastructure gaps in rural and distressed communities; and

    (D) enhancement of South Carolina's ability to play a key role advancing the country's competitiveness in the development, integration, and commercialization of globally leading electric-power technologies in the State.

 

SECTION 4.  Within thirty days after the effective date of this joint resolution, each agency or subdivision of the State to which this joint resolution applies shall receive a copy of this resolution and shall take all necessary actions to ensure broad collaboration to meet the aforementioned goals. This SECTION does not apply to units of local government.

 

SECTION 5.  The provisions of this joint resolution must be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes of this joint resolution.

 

SECTION 6.  This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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