Edward Smith, edward.smith@sierraclub.org
Frank Knapp, fknapp@scsbc.org
COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club are hosting a webinar, on background, for reporters in South Carolina on the importance of large load tariffs in protecting existing utility customers from rate shock due to power-hungry data centers. The purpose of the webinar is to have a conversation about the size and impact of data centers on the electric grid, impacts to existing customers, and how the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) could adopt transparent safeguards for Dominion, Duke, and Santee Cooper customers following its opening of a large load docket.
Dominion and Duke allege they are protecting customers, however their deals with data center companies are currently secret. The Small Business Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Club were part of settlement negotiations with Duke Energy that required a large load docket to be opened by the PSC no later than June 1, 2026.
The presentation portion of the webinar will be recorded, and the slides and recording will be shared by request following the event. An opportunity for Q&A with webinar participants will occur following the presentation, which will not be recorded. Both presenters are available for interviews after the event.
Who: Dori Jaffe, Sierra Club Attorney and co-author of Demanding Better: How Growing Demand for Electricity Can Drive a Clean Grid
Frank Knapp, President and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, starting at 10:00AM.
Where: RSVP to the Zoom webinar here.
Other: Unable to attend? Email renner.barsella@sierraclub.org and we'll send you a recording of the webinar.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.