The Public Service Commission of South Carolina approved Duke Energy's (NYSE: DUK) proposal to construct a natural gas power plant in Anderson County, marking the company's first new generation facility in the state in a decade.

The combined cycle plant will have approximately 1,365 megawatts of capacity, with construction scheduled to begin in summer 2027 and operations starting by early 2031. Central Electric Power Cooperative and North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation will own 95 megawatts and 100 megawatts of the facility's capacity, respectively.

An Ernst & Young survey projects the construction will support more than 2,200 jobs annually during the multi-year build period, including 746 jobs in Anderson County. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate an $84 million annual economic impact statewide and support 125 permanent jobs with $10 million in annual labor income.

The approval follows the enactment of South Carolina's Energy Security Act in 2025, which established energy policy guidelines for the state. The facility represents Duke Energy's response to population growth and business expansion in South Carolina, described as one of the nation's fastest-growing states.

The plant will incorporate environmental control technologies and use 90% less water than traditional wet cooling systems. It will not produce a vapor plume and will eliminate the need for chemical water treatment.

Duke Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, serves 2.9 million customers across North Carolina and South Carolina with 20,800 megawatts of energy capacity. The parent company operates 55,100 megawatts of capacity across six states and serves 8.6 million electric customers.