PR And Lobbying Shitstorm Ramping Up In Wake Of South Carolina Nuclear Plant Fiasco

An epic battle is unfolding at the S.C. State House and on the airwaves as deep-pocketed power companies fight for a foothold in South Carolina’s volatile energy market.

Three dozen lobbyists have been hired by major utilities to be their eyes, ears and advocates at the State House as lawmakers decide what to do about a failed nuclear project that already has cost S.C. power customers more than $2 billion. Included in that number are at least eight lobbyists for a Florida-based utility, NextEra Energy, thought to have its eyes on acquiring the Cayce-based SCANA utility and, possibly, the state-owned Santee Cooper utility as well.

In addition, at least eight more lobbyists are representing the solar industry, which sees the nuclear fiasco as an opportunity to expand its footprint in the Palmetto State. The state-owned Santee Cooper utility also has two additional lobbyists. Another group, whose lobbyist is a former congressman, is pushing for the state to sell Santee Cooper. That group, State House sources, say is aligned with NextEra.

The groups also are appealing to the public through commercials, web and social media campaigns, and polls about the biggest event on the horizon: Virginia-based Dominion’s proposed $14.6 billion buyout of SCANA, taking heat for the nuclear project’s failure. Lawmakers are bracing themselves for a lobbying onslaught. “There’s no question they’re coming,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said of the lobbying effort at the State House. “It’s going to be pretty intense. It’s probably going to be the most intensely lobbied issue that I’ve seen. “And most of it’s going to be disingenuous. Everybody’s putting their own spin on it.”

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http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article194556999.html