Anti-American, pro-CCP energy policies are not limited to Blue states. We expect foolish energy policies from California, Hawaii, Massachussetts, CT, ME and NY but not so much in “Red States” like South Carolina. S.C. is one of the most Conservative states in the U.S. However the S.C. political leaders have drank the “Green Kool Aid” and continue to permit and depend on solar with battery backup to be promoted to replace the reliable and affordable coal generation in our state.
My friend Dave Walsh was on Bannon’s War Room a couple days ago to discuss the surge in building of solar farms in America. One point that he made was: It is not only Blue States that have self-sabotaging energy policies, it is also Red States. Including my state of South Carolina. 91% of new U.S. generation capacity built last year was renewables. https://rumble.com/v6yif84-walsh-91-of-new-capacity-power-being-built-this-year-is-solar-and-a-little-.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp_a
A chart of investment in renewables supports the comments of Dave Walsh. Over 91% of the new generation installed in the U.S. in 2024 was renewables. This is also corroborated on the Global Energy Monitor website.
Mark Lewis on LinkedIn has also posted a summary of the persistent building of tax subsidized, parasitic and high electricity rate driving solar and wind. Mark’s post is here. A screen shot of the ENVERUS chart is copied below. This is from Ian Nieboer Substack article. Thank you Ian. As can be seen, the subsidies for wind, solar and battery storage continue well past 2030. In my opinion and observations, the subsidies for wind and solar are the root cause of increasing electric rates nationwide and a trend toward reduced reliability as well.

Back to my Red state of S.C. SenatorTom Davis, Governor McMaster and the SC Legislature still have coal plant shutdowns planned for Santee-Cooper. Here is an excerpt of the Press Release on “All of the Above EnergyPolicy” by Senator Davis:
These coal plants have a stellar record of keeping electricity prices and reliability amongst the best in the world. Tom Davis’ Press Release after the Governor signed the SC Energy Bill implied: “We consider all forms of energy, renewables, gas and nuclear”. I emailed Davis to remind him that over 40% of Palmetto Electric’s Bulk Power is from coal and that it is the lowest cost fuel. Davis got right back to me and said, “We won’t shut coal plants down until a better source is found”….This is Not reassuring because, starving an operating plant of required maintenance $$ will simply cause it to become an unreliable and higher cost asset…then, predictably, the improperly maintained equipment wear and tear will lead to a self inflicted decay and unreliability. After the deterioration, this will lead to a then obvious decision to replace the coal plants with higher production cost gas plants. This happened at the once magnificent McIntosh Unit #3 at the City of Lakeland in Florida. I know because I worked many years for the City of Lakeland as a contractor and/or consultant, including the startup and tuning of McIntosh #3 and many maintenance efforts 1982-2012.
Reminder, the generation cost component to produce electricity, for a gas plant is about 90% fuel cost. Therefore, if the gas price doubles, so does the production cost of electricity. Let that sink in. The gas fueled RICE (Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines) will produce electricity at a cost that tracks natural gas prices.
Fast forward to next year and the U.S. exported LNG will likely increase domestic gas prices in the U.S. this winter and beyond. I support President Trump’s interest in exporting LNG but we should use more American coal for power generation here in the U.S. until new nuclear plants are built. In fact, more new coal plants should be built as well. I presented my thoughts and analysis of the importance of coal power at the Coal Institute in July. Coal is a more stable and economical fuel for Bulk Power generation.
Natural gas prices are not always low. Here is a 44 year history of gas prices compared to coal.
A minority of the folks in the U.S. population (Including Policymakers) understand the basics of energy and power generation. My estimate is less than 3%. Why? Utility generating plants became huge, highly automated and it only takes a crew of three operators to run a 600-1200 MW coal plant. Also, the 97% of the energy naive public has been bombarded with green indoctrination and lies about “Free solar and wind power”. Thus, the combination of high productivity of coal plants over the years has been done with a very small work force that has experience in power generation. Then, secondly, the successful demonization of coal by the MSM, Entertainment and well funded NGOs has led us to the point of a Self-Inflicted electricity generation crisis. ( Maybe not all Self Inflicted, some foreign actors were also involved)
Piling onto the madness of anti-American energy policies we have, Utility managers trained in accounting or law that have teamed up with similarly low Energy IQ politicians to create harmful, anti-American, Net-Zero Carbon Policies…These are so called “Energy Policies”. Why and how can these insane policies be put into place? Because the policy makers simply do not understand basic power generation fundamentals. Much of the western world has been following the same destructive Net-Zero Carbon path. Five examples are the UK, Germany, Spain, Australia and Denmark. They all have high power costs that are killing their once productive Industrial base. My adopted state of S.C. seems to be right there with the UK and Germany with regard to foolish “Green Energy Policies”.
Conclusions
- Much of the Free Western World has been making the same mistakes on following a path to Net-Zero Carbon
- It is my opinion that the path to Net-Zero Carbon was to reduce the productive capacity of the west and increase the dependence on manufactured products from China. Net-Zero Carbon policies are Not based on sound energy policies or for protection of the environment. At best they are to promote government control of our lives. At worst they are to weaken the western free world and therefore by default, increase the world influence of China.
- Thankfully we have President Trump and Chris Wright to frame U.S. Energy Policy. However, the purpose of this article is to point out the fact that many states remain on paths to destroy reasonable cost, reliable electric power generation that supports industrial production and economic prosperity…
Yours very truly,
Dick Storm, September 9, 2025
References and information for further reading
- Mark Lewis post on LinkedIn on the building of renewables after passing the OBBB, Sept 7, 2025: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7370480088062046208-EhvU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAI4KQUBYW-cbQRlA1kgj9X3llGi7u6KNnQ
- Ian Nieboer Substack and ENVERUS chart of OBBBA Subsidies: https://onenergy.iannieboer.com/p/questions-for-california
- Dick Storm presentation to the Coal Institute, July 2025. http://www.thecoalinstitute.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Dick%20Storm%20Presentation%20July%202025.pdf
- Global Energy Monitor website: https://globalenergymonitor.org/projects/global-integrated-power-tracker/dashboard/
- Rafe Champion Burn Coal or Freeze in the Dark: https://rafechampion.substack.com/p/burn-coal-in-australia-or-die-in
- Bjorn Lomberg: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bjornlomborg_nytimes-and-many-other-suggest-that-the-more-activity-7350118091680313344-CTSF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAI4KQUBYW-cbQRlA1kgj9X3llGi7u6KNnQ
- Bjorn Lomberg on high cost of solar and wind: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bjornlomborg_the-expensive-green-delusion-despite-green-activity-7331637580842594304-yJtG?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAI4KQUBYW-cbQRlA1kgj9X3llGi7u6KNnQ
- Substack article by Isaac Orr and Mitch Rolling on Solar with Battery Backup, July 5th, 2025:https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/the-baseload-solar-beatdown
- Substack by Orr and Rolling in 2024 on the Myth of Cheap Solar: https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/how-to-destroy-the-myth-of-cheap
- EIA List of Electricity Rates by State: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a
https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2024/03/20/hawaii-a-glimpse-into-the-future-of-the-green-new-deal-aka-inflation-reduction-act-here-is-an-update/ - Thomas J. Shepstone on Why Do Wind and Solar Need Subsidies if they are so Cheap?: https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/why-are-solar-and-wind-still-government?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- EIA Most of new generation capacity in 2025 from Solar, Aug. 20, 2025: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65964&utm_medium=email
- WSJ on Wind and Solar subsidies, Aug. 21, 2025: https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/why-solar-and-wind-power-can-thrive-without-subsidies-cee47663
- Failures of the renewables transition era are insults to taxpayers.
The worlds’ population depends on insulation, wires, computers, and fertilizers that “renewables” cannot provide.
Published September 1, 2025, in America Out Loud NEWS
https://www.americaoutloud.news/failures-of-the-renewables-transition-era-are-insults-to-taxpayers/ - Inside Climate News on Maryland Matters of Why Electric Costs are Escalating: https://marylandmatters.org/2025/09/01/why-prices-are-soaring-in-the-countrys-largest-grid-region-explained-in-5-charts/
- GRIDWATCH Australia
Thank you Rafe Champion! “AT 6.30 PM eastern time THE WIND WAS CONTRIBUTING 13% OF DEMAND IN THE EAST
AND 2.5% IN THE WEST OH DEAR!!”
https://www.nem-watch.info/widgets/RenewEconomy/ - TEXAS Grid status
https://www.gridstatus.io/live/ercot - BRITAIN Grid status:
https://grid.iamkate.com/ - PJM Interconnection, Dashboard: https://www.pjm.com
- Mid-America Independent System Operator, Dashboard MISO: https://www.misoenergy.org
- Ed Ireland on TX wind and solar: https://substack.com/@edireland
- Interview with Dave Walsh on Bannon War Room, Rumble, Sept 5, 2025: https://rumble.com/v6yif84-walsh-91-of-new-capacity-power-being-built-this-year-is-solar-and-a-little-.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp_a
- Tom Shepstone Sub-Stack on Massachusetts high electric rates: https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/political-reality-descends-upon-massachusetts?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Tom Shepstone on POSIGEN Failure in PA, Sept. 8, 2025: https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/posigen-provides-yet-another-example?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Electric Power Fantasies Collide in the West, CFACT, Aug. 12, 2025: https://papundits.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/electric-power-fantasies-collide-out-west/
- WUWT on Power in the West by David Wojick: https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/08/12/electric-power-fantasies-collide-out-west/
- Dr. Samule Furfari on Energy Additions, Not a Transition, Fossil Fuels are the Bedrock of Progress, July 2025: https://co2coalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-07-Energy-Addition-Not-Transition-Fossil-Fuels-Remain-the-Bedrock-of-Progress.pdf
- The Very Real Costs of the War on Coal, Real Clear Energy, July 2025: https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/07/31/the_very_real_human_impact_of_coal_closures_1125990.html
- EIA Solar most of new capacity 2025, Aug. 20, 2025: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65964&utm_medium=email
- Dick Storm presentation to the Coal Institute, July 2025: http://www.thecoalinstitute.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Dick%20Storm%20Presentation%20July%202025.pdf
- ” The full Santee-Cooper IRP is here: https://www.santeecooper.com/About/Integrated-Resource-Plan/Reports-and-Materials/Santee-Cooper-2024-IRP-Update.pdf
- EIA Electricity Prices, March 2025: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a
https://electricityplans.com/average-electricity-bill-usage-rate-by-state/#top-10-states-for-cheapest-electricity-bills - EIA Wholesale Electricity Rates, 2024: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64284
- Electric Choice.com March 2025, Electric Rates in U.S.: https://www.electricchoice.com/electricity-prices-by-state/
- Coal Power, It is the End Result that Matters!: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2025/03/28/coal-power-it-is-the-end-result-that-counts/
- Volatility of natural gas prices: Natural Gas Consumption 2024 by EIA, March 31, 2025: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64845&utm_medium=email
- Natural Gas Prices tabulation 2019-2024 by EIA : https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/monthly/pdf/table_03.pdf
- On the high cost of wind, solar and Battery Electricity Storage Systems: Frazer Institute, “Hot Air, Cold Truths, Bjorn Lomberg, March 2025: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/hot-air-and-cold-truths-bjorn-lomborg
- Delaware County Insider, Wind and Solar are Expensive, Bjorn Lomberg, May 24, 2024: https://delawarevalleyjournal.com/lomborg-the-true-cost-of-wind-and-solar-energy/
- Yahoo Finance and National Post, March 2025, Bjorn Lomberg, Wind and Solar are Expensive: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/bjorn-lomborg-solar-wind-power-100008520.html
- Alabama Attorney General is amongst 22 states in appeal to return to coal for power generation revival of the Grid: https://gulfcoastmedia.com/stories/alabama-attorney-general-calls-for-reviving-americas-energy-grid-with-coal,257548?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0XeLob6rYc5WaBBtSyuB7vHctTdzVhTJxJZ96bExtALJBFoqUPAJPKaY0_aem_8TNpNEKQSIdjNrJTJeBF8Q#//
- Life Powered article on the Unreliability of Wind & Solar in Texas, March 29, 2025: https://lifepowered.org/reliability-standards-to-reduce-the-cost-of-wind-and-solar-volatility-in-texas/
- Highest cost Electricity by Country: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/cost-of-electricity-by-country https://www.electricrate.com/data-center/electricity-prices-by-country/ https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/20-countries-with-highest-cost-of-electricity-1176033/
- Santee-Cooper 2023 Facts: https://www.santeecooper.com/About/Investors/easset_upload_file52601_79834_e.pdf
- SC Bill to update Energy Policy. Hard to read the gobbledygook….but here it is: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/3309.html
- City of Lakeland McIntosh Unit #3 Destruction due to political choices and poor maintenance before declaring it unreliable: https://www.powermag.com/watch-implosion-topple-florida-coal-fired-plant/
- Thomas J. Shepstone on solar and wind still being built after Congress passed One Big Beautiful Bill, Sept. 2025: https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/are-the-days-of-solar-stupidity-coming?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Washington Free Beacon report on CCP funding of Climate Extremists in the U.S. Dec. 19, 2024: https://freebeacon.com/energy/ex-ccp-officials-steered-millions-to-us-based-green-groups-universities-for-climate-initiatives/
- Firebreak on NGO’s and Regulations, Part 1: https://www.thefirebreak.org/p/introducing-a-new-stakeholder-class?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
- Firebreak on APE’s and NGO’s and How to Regulate, Part 2: https://open.substack.com/pub/thefirebreak/p/how-to-regulate-apes-part-2?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
- Capital Research Center, Influence Watch report on Green Capital grants from government 2024 : https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/coalition-for-green-capital-cgc/
- Firebreak Substack on EU Billions…NGO’s, May 27, 2025: https://www.thefirebreak.org/p/billions-to-ngos-from-dark-channels?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Firebreak, June 19, 2025 on Green Billionaire Funds to NGO’s supporting “Climate Change Propaganda”: https://www.thefirebreak.org/p/mouthpiece-for-green-billionaires?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Thomas J. Shepstone, Jr on Bill McKibben & 350.0rg. , the Rockefeller Foundation and NRDC wrongly demonizing coal plants. Sept. 2025: https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/robert-bryce-takes-down-bill-mckibben?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Thomas J. Shepstone article 9 years ago in 2014 on the Rockefeller and 350.org coordination of opposition to natural gas Hydraulic Fracturing: https://naturalgasnow.org/rockefeller-front-group-350-org-attacks-cove-point/

























































