Duke Energy has submitted a final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend the operations of its Bad Creek Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Station in South Carolina for another 50 years.
Duke Energy has taken a significant step toward ensuring a stable energy future for the Carolinas, announcing the submission of its final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Bad Creek Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Station. The application, if approved, would extend the plant's operational license for an additional 50 years, securing a vital energy asset for decades to come.
Located near Salem, S.C., in Oconee County, Bad Creek has served as the largest "battery" on Duke Energy's system since 1991. The facility is a marvel of engineering, functioning by moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations to store and deliver large quantities of energy. During periods of low energy demand, the plant uses excess electricity to pump water from Lake Jocassee to the upper Bad Creek Reservoir. When demand for electricity is high, the water is released back down through turbines to generate power, providing a flexible, efficient, and emission-free solution to a growing energy grid.
The relicensing effort comes at a crucial time as both North and South Carolina are experiencing significant economic and population growth. According to Duke Energy, extending the life of proven facilities like Bad Creek is essential to meet this rising demand while also bringing new, diverse generating resources online. The company serves nearly 860,000 retail electric customers in South Carolina alone, and ensuring a resilient grid is a top priority.
As part of this commitment, Duke Energy recently completed a series of upgrades to the four units at the facility. These upgrades added a total of 320 megawatts of carbon-free energy to the system, increasing the station's total capacity to an impressive 1,680 megawatts. The upgrades were conducted in phases, adding 80 MW of capacity to each of the four Pump Turbines.
The current operating license for the project is set to expire in July 2027. Duke Energy's application is the result of extensive collaboration, including consultations with more than 70 stakeholders to propose a new license agreement. The company anticipates a decision from FERC in 2027, well before the original license expires.
Tim Pearson, Duke Energy South Carolina President, echoed this sentiment, calling the facility a "marvel in the mountain." He stated, "Our commitment to keep a proven asset like Bad Creek online for decades to come while also bringing a diverse portfolio of new generating resources to the grid reflects the direction our state's leaders have made clear is the right path forward to support a reliable, affordable and resilient Energy future for South Carolina."
