1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

I'm responding to your October 30 email on energy costs. You say families shouldn't foot the bill. I agree. Will you require data centers and large industrial users to pay the full cost of the grid upgrades they need? Slogans don't lower my power bill. Policy does. Westinghouse and First Solar came here with public money: county tax breaks, federal tax credits, and Inflation Reduction Act credits from a law Republicans voted against. First Solar announced about 600 jobs, not "nearly 700," and Westinghouse has committed to no new job number. What guarantees do taxpayers get: firm job counts, wage floors, or clawbacks if promises aren't kept? You want "super charging" drilling in Alaska, North Dakota and off California. None of that lowers my bills. Petroleum makes about 0.1% of South Carolina's electricity. U.S. oil production is already at record levels and pump prices are still up, because oil is a global market. And South Carolina leaders from both parties fought to keep rigs off our coast. If it's too risky for Myrtle Beach, why is it fine for California? You're right that Democrats blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act. But that bill only asked regulators to "consider" making data centers pay. Will you support a bill that requires it, and urge our Public Service Commission to act now? If not, the vote was for show, on both sides. The Disaster Zone Energy Act is co-led by a Democrat, Sen. Cantwell. So are Democrats the obstacle, or partners when it suits you? It also gives utilities like Duke Energy tax credits with only a promise that savings reach customers "in time." Where is the requirement that they reach my bill? Your focus is "crystal clear," you say. Make it clear with votes that put families ahead of utilities, oil companies and data center developers. I'm not asking you to pick a team. I'm asking you to pick us.