Three entities in the Grand Strand area have received grants for renewable energy and alternative transportation fuel projects through a federal grant awarded by the S.C. Budget and Control Board’s State Energy Office.

These three clean energy projects are funded by the Energy Office and are part of $2.8 million awarded to nine non-profit organizations and government entities in South Carolina.

Plug In Carolina was awarded $240,000 to install 28 electric vehicle charging stations in Union, Rock Hill and the Grand Strand. Of those, eight will be located along the Grand Strand and all will be available to the public. The cities will be providing the electricity for these charging stations which will be located in municipal parking garages. All plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles can recharge their batteries with these devices including the plug-in Toyota Prius, the planned Chevy Volt and any other vehicles with conversion kits. The charging stations will save vehicle owners more than $363,000 in fuel costs.

Santee Cooper was awarded $475,000 to install solar panels on the roof of its buildings in Myrtle Beach, creating the “Grand Strand Solar Station,” which will be the largest solar system in the state. These panels will increase the amount of solar capacity supplying Santee Cooper customers four-fold and save more than $1 million over the life of the project.

Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. was awarded $500,000 to install 70 solar water heating systems in homes of members of York Electric Cooperative, Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Santee Electric Cooperative and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative. The cooperatives will study the units to determine how to improve water heating efficiency for all consumers. This project will save the participating homeowners a total of more than $1 million over the life of the equipment.

“The Grand Strand and the Pee Dee will benefit from these three projects which feature some of the latest renewable energy and alternative transportation fuel,” said John Clark, director of the energy office.

Other South Carolina projects funded through this program are:

• $500,000 to Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) to install generators that create electricity from methane gas released from the break down of waste from the water waste treatment process.
• $500,000 to Claflin University to install the first solar adsorption cooling system on its campus that uses solar power to create hot water and then cool water to provide a portion of its heating and cooling needs for the new Bio-Energy Park and Research Campus.
• $340,000 to Furman University to install solar panels on the roof of the Physical Activities Center which will provide electricity to the campus.
• $111,500 to the St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center on Johns Island, S.C. to install 17 solar hot water systems on 15 housing structures and conference center.
• $100,906 to The Columbia Museum of Art to install solar panels on the roof of its building and to create a monitoring system where patrons will be able to view the amount of power created.
• $49,594 to York County Natural Gas Authority (YCNGA) to convert seven Ford F-150 light duty trucks to utilize compressed natural gas.

The nine grants will save a total of $7.7 million in energy costs over the life of the projects. Applicants are contributing a total of $3.6 million in cost-share for the projects, or a match of $1.31 for every $1 invested by the grant.

In order to be considered for these grants, projects had to foster market penetration of clean energy technologies, provide sustained reduction of fossil fuel consumption and create permanent jobs in South Carolina. Organizations must implement the projects within two years of receiving the award.

These projects are funded through a grant from the Department of Energy under Award Number(s) DE-EE0000158.