Feb. 3, 2026, 3:20 p.m. ET
- Duke Energy has proposed building its largest natural gas power plant in South Carolina in Anderson County.
- Residents and environmental groups have raised concerns about potential air pollution and health risks, including asthma.
- Supporters cite the project’s economic benefits, including tax revenue for schools and job creation.
- The plant is needed to meet the growing energy demands of the Upstate’s increasing population and industry.
More than two dozen residents voiced environmental and health concerns during a public hearing on Duke Energy’s proposal to build a natural gas power plant in Anderson County, a project that would become the company’s largest gas facility in South Carolina.
Residents attended a public hearing by the South Carolina Public Service Commission on Feb. 2 at the Martin Luther King Anderson Civic Center.
The planned 1,400-megawatt natural gas power plant would be on Highway 81 South near True Temper Road.
Supporters argue the project could strengthen the local economy and expand school funding, while opponents warn the environmental and health costs may outweigh potential economic gains.
Opponents, including the Southern Environmental Law Center, say projects like this can create poor conditions by emitting greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, and releasing harmful pollutants.
“Duke must show the nature of probable environmental impact and that the impact of the facility is justified; unfortunately, Duke has not met that burden,” said Emily Poole, a staff attorney for the South Carolina Environmental Law Project. “Given the proposed location of this gas plant, the threat to human health cannot be overstated.
“Placing this gas station at this location raises significant environmental risks for residents,” Poole said.
Kathy Hipp, superintendent for Anderson County School District Three, said bringing major industry to the area can produce a huge boost in tax revenue, as District Three has one of the lowest per-pupil revenue levels in the Upstate, a reflection of the district’s limited local tax base in the area.
“We’re a school district that needs to replace three schools,” Hipp said. “I care about the students and families in School District Three because that’s where my family is. If I’m going to endorse something. I’m going to make sure it’s right for our children, and I’ve taken the time to do that.”
Duke gas plant projected to generate $1.3 billion
The proposed Duke Energy facility is projected to generate an average of $16.7 million in annual taxes over the first 10 years, with more than 70% of that tax revenue going to local school districts, according to Duke Energy. The project is projected to support over 2,200 jobs annually and generate $1.3 billion in statewide GDP.
Duke Energy said the 200-acre plant is necessary to keep up with South Carolina’s economic development and population growth, particularly in the Upstate. The Upstate, especially Greenville and Spartanburg counties, has outpaced growth trends at the state and national levels.
In 2024, the Upstate’s population grew by 1.9 percent, according to the Upstate South Carolina Alliance, a public-private economic development organization. Spartanburg County grew by 2.9 percent in 2024. Greenville County’s population grew by 2 percent.
Anderson County has grown from 204,192 people in 2020 to an estimated 217,183 people in 2024.
Buriss Nelson of the Anderson County Economic Development Department said the county lacks a facility capable of supplying the required power to attract industry. He said this Duke plant will help change that, as he has already used the proposed natural gas facility as a recruiting pitch to prospective companies.
“We want good jobs, we want to recruit great companies, we want to do great in Anderson County, and without that power (from Duke’s plant), we don’t have a chance to do that,” Nelson said.
Duke explains on its website that the facility will provide natural gas turbines and other associated equipment, manufactured in Greenville, to meet the growing needs of data centers, advanced manufacturing, and population growth.
The average Duke Energy natural gas plant in South Carolina produces between 560 and 750 megawatts of instantaneous power, according to Duke Energy.
The facility will require a water source of 600,000 gallons per day for cooling and process makeup, and will discharge approximately 400,000 gallons of waste per day to the local municipal waste treatment facility.
Residents express concerns regarding gas plants
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Anderson County ranks fourth in the state for asthma cases.
Residents cited this statistic, along with the potential for high gas emissions, as a deadly combination.
“Too many people near the plant would be exposed to air pollution,” Frank Powell of Seneca said at the hearing. “This large gas plant will only aggravate human health and further shorten life expectancy.”
The plant will be adjacent to neighborhoods and approximately three miles from Flatrock Elementary School.
Nicole Burdette of Starr said her children attend Flatrock and don’t want any students to be in harm’s way from potential physical waste or exhaust fumes.
“How that energy is produced matters, especially when it directly affects the health and safety of children, the elderly, and local communities. Their (children’s) lungs are still developing, and exposure to pollution emitted by gas plants such as nitrous oxide has been linked to increased asthma attacks,” Burdette said.
Duke says engineers conducted environmental studies
Sam Wellborn, a Duke Energy attorney, said engineers conducted detailed environmental studies to assess air quality, water use, noise, and traffic. Wellborn said the Department of Environmental Services will evaluate Duke’s air permit to ensure emissions don’t become hazardous.
What’s next for Duke Energy?
Duke’s planners will hold an evidentiary hearing on Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. in the Service Commission’s hearing room at 101 Executive Center Drive in Columbia. An evidentiary hearing is a formal proceeding to gather evidence and materials to support decisions on permits or site plans.
Duke said that if the project moves forward, its representatives will seek regulatory approvals and apply for local, state, and federal permits.
Construction is expected to begin in summer 2027 and serve customers by early 2031.
