Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 19, 2023) – After years of service to the South Carolina Power Team Board of Trustees, four esteemed members have completed their terms. This group includes Chairman B. Robert (Bob) Paulling of Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Vice Chairman James L. (Jimmy) Rowe of Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Inc.; J. David Wasson, Jr., of Laurens Electric Cooperative, Inc.; and David E. Felkel of Edisto Electric Cooperative, Inc. Members of this Board are tasked with facilitating the growth of jobs, investment, and electric load through the attraction of new industrial and commercial activity, as well as the expansion and retention of existing businesses and facilities in the service areas of South Carolina's 20 electric cooperatives.
During their tenure, the Board contributed to significant economic growth in South Carolina, generating billions of dollars in new capital investments. This success culminated in 2022 with a record-breaking $4.37 billion in capital investment adding 28 new projects that will create 3,969 new jobs in cooperative-served territories.
In recent years, South Carolina's electric cooperatives have welcomed several businesses to the state including Redwood Materials in Berkeley County, Niagara Bottling in Florence County, Kontrolmatik Technologies in Colleton County, and Oshkosh Defense in Spartanburg County to name a few. These companies made multi-million dollar investments and added hundreds of jobs to their respective communities.
The Board expanded the Site Readiness Fund (SRF) as part of their Community Preparedness program, establishing new industrial sites, parks, and buildings that are ready to enter the market. They also worked with Laurens, Berkeley, Lexington, Newberry, York, and Union counties to launch large-scale community development projects.
In an effort to improve our local communities, the Board approved the Upskill Incentive program. This program rewards cooperative members with funds to train their existing employees and boost employee retention. To date, this program has funded $109,280 in grant awards helping cooperatives upskill 62 existing employees.
Last year, the Board approved the guidelines for a Cooperative Revolving Loan Fund (CoRLF). This program will benefit the service territories of South Carolina's electric cooperatives in job retention/creation, community enhancement, and electric load creation.
“Paulling, Rowe, Wasson, and Felkel have been invaluable members of our Board. Their dedication has been instrumental in driving economic development in South Carolina. We are grateful for their service and know that this group will continue making significant contributions to the electric cooperative industry,” said James Chavez, President and CEO of the South Carolina Power Team.
