Post on 22-Jun-2020
transcript
October 2015
Office of Regulatory Staff
Energy Office
South Carolina Energy Statistical Highlights
This document may be downloaded from the State Energy Office website
http://www.energy.sc.gov/edata
Contact: Jacob Scoggins, Energy Specialist
jscoggins@regstaff.sc.gov
This work is supported by the United States Department of Energy and the South Carolina Energy Office, under Award Number DE-EE0006996, State Energy Program.
Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information,
apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or
service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily
State or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
Forward
Energy is more important than ever for the functioning of modern economic and civic life. As new
regulations are implemented and grid infrastructure investments are needed, policy-makers and energy
consumers in all sectors require relevant data to inform their planning and decision-making in the years
to come.
South Carolina Energy Statistical Highlights is the Office of Regulatory Staff -- Energy Office’s (EO)
summary of current and historical energy statistics, with a focus on new and important developments in
the State’s consumption of energy resources. This report is designed to illustrate and underscore trends
in energy consumption that are directly relevant for statewide energy policy and long-range planning.
All efforts have been made to ensure that the information provided in this report is compiled from the
most accurate and most recent sources in the public domain. Unless otherwise noted, the source of all
data in this report is the United States Energy Information Administration. Please note that, because of
the broad scope, these data are typically released with a significant time lag. As a result, the majority of
the statistics presented in this report are current as of 2013. Please visit www.energy.sc.gov to find the
latest updates as new data become available.
The EO, a division of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, provides a broad range of services to
help the State’s citizens, businesses, non-profits, and public agencies save energy and money. You can
find out more about us online at www.energy.sc.gov.
Table of Contents
Section 1: Overview - S.C. Energy Demand 5-6
Section 2: Energy Expenditures and Prices 7-8
Section 3: Transportation Sector 9-10
Section 4: Industrial Sector 11-12
Section 5: Residential Sector 13-14
Section 6: Commercial Sector 15-16
Section 7: Electricity 17-19
Section 8: Petroleum 20-21
Section 9: Nuclear, Coal, and Natural Gas 22-23
Section 10: Renewable and Alternative Fuels 24-25
5
1.Overview—S.C. Energy Demand
Total end-use energy consumption in South Carolina increased 2.5% in 2013, thus reversing a multi-year trend of
marginal reductions. Consumption in the residential, commercial and transportation sectors increased, while the
industrial sector saw a small decrease (“End-use” is the energy used at the point of consumption; it does not include
energy expended in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity.)
The 2013 increase in energy demand occurred alongside flat (and slightly decreasing) inflation-adjusted energy prices in
the State, and a recovering State economy that experienced a nearly 2% increase in real gross domestic product (GDP)
five years after the contraction seen in 2008-2009. Furthermore, leveling off of energy prices occurred after sharp real
price increases in the years preceding the 2008-2009 economic downturn.
0
200
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1200
1400
1600
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19
601
961
19
621
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641
965
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967
19
681
969
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
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19
801
981
19
821
983
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841
985
19
861
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881
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921
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961
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20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
South Carolina Total End-Use Energy Consumption by Sector ('60-13)
Residential
Industrial
Commercial
Transportation
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
160000
180000
200000
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
$ (Y
r13
)/millio
n B
TU
$ M
illio
n (
Yr1
3)
Real GDP and Real Average Energy Price
GDP Average Energy Price (all fuel sources)
6
1.Overview—S.C. Energy Demand
Heating degree days (a measure of need for building heating) increased 23.7% over 2012 levels, thus contributing to
higher energy demand in winter months. Conversely, cooling degree days (a measure of need for building cooling) fell
by 14.8% in 2013, reducing summertime demand for electric-powered air conditioning units. There were 1,874 cooling
degree days in 2013, and 2,943 heating degree days.1
1 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www7.ncdc.noaa.gov/CDO/CDODivisionalSelect.jsp#
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
Co
olin
g D
egr
ee
Day
s
S.C. Heating and Cooling Degree Days ('60-'13)
Cooling Degree Days Heating Degree Days
7
2.Energy Expenditures and Prices
Total South Carolina energy expenditures increased 3.9% in 2013, to $21.73 billion and were above historically
anticipated energy spending levels. The stabilization of energy expenditures from 2010 to 2013 has followed a period of
high volatility in expenditures between 2007 and 2009. A dotted line showing predicted values based on the historical
trend is provided at right for reference.
This spending increase can be partly attributed to flat or increasing fuel costs and was coupled with a decline in energy
usage. Fuel costs grew significantly in some cases and dropped modestly in others. Petroleum products decreased 0.3%
and coal by 5.5%; natural gas increased 21% between 2012 and 2013. (“All uses” takes into account both primary fuels
that are used at the point of consumption — such as heating oil or motor gasoline — and fuels burned in the generation
of electricity for distribution by utilities.)
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
$ M
illio
n (
No
min
al)
Total South Carolina Energy Expenditures ('70-'13)
Energy Expenditures Historical Trend
0
5
10
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20
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30
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
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761
977
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841
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861
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901
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921
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941
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19
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997
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981
999
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001
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003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
$ p
er
Mill
ion
BTU
(n
om
inal
)
Prices-Four Most Utilized Fuels, All Uses ('70-'13)
Coal
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Petroleum
8
2.Energy Expenditures and Prices
South Carolina has no indigenous sources of petroleum or coal; therefore, these resources must be purchased from
other States or countries to be used for electricity generation and as transportation fuel.
0
50
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500
19
601
961
19
621
963
19
641
965
19
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967
19
681
969
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
19
821
983
19
841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
19
901
991
19
921
993
19
941
995
19
961
997
19
981
999
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001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Coal Production vs. Consumption ('60-'13)
Coal Production Coal Consumption
Coal Imports
9
3.Transportation Sector
South Carolina’s transportation sector was responsible for the second largest share of end-use energy consumption in
2013 and accounted for 28.46% of the State’s energy usage at the point of consumption. “Transportation” includes
energy usage in all air and ground-based vehicles fueling in the State.
Total transportation energy use increased in 2013 by 5.1% as consumption of both diesel fuels and motor gasoline
increased.
Automobiles are responsible for the majority of energy consumption in South Carolina’s transportation sector. Total
motor gasoline consumption increased by 2.4% in 2013. Some of the additional consumption was of fuel ethanol, which
Transportation 28.46%
Commercial 16.31%
Industrial 33.14%
Residential 22.10%
S.C. End-Use Energy Consumption by Sector ('13)
311.99 319.49
91.26 107.45
27.66 25.93
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2012 2013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Transportation Energy Consumption by Fuel Type ('12, '13)
Other Fuels
Distillate Fuel Oil (Diesel)
Motor Gasoline
10
3.Transportation Sector
Increased by 2.9% (largely through gasoline-ethanol mixes, such as E10). However, these increases in ethanol use are
modest compared to much larger increases seen in previous years when ethanol initially gained popularity.
Furthermore, ethanol contributed only 6.6% of the total motor gasoline mix in 2013. (South Carolina does not mandate
blended gasoline.)
It should be noted that state-level data on transportation energy consumption includes purchases made by out-of-state
consumers – for example, cars and trucks traveling on interstate highways. Given that South Carolina has the lowest
tax-inclusive gas prices on the southeastern portion of the I-95 corridor, it is likely that these data are inflated by trips
originating from elsewhere and overstate the transportation energy consumed by South Carolina residents and
businesses.2
2 AAA: http://fuelgaugereport.aaa.com/
291.139 294.215 301.268
19.129 20.599 21.193
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2011 2012 2013
Trill
ion
BTU
South Carolina Motor Gasoline by Fuel Type ('11, '12, '13)
Ethanol
Fossil Fuel Only
11
4.Industrial Sector
Accounting for 33.14% of energy expended, the industrial sector was responsible for the largest share of end-use energy
consumption in 2013. However, total industrial energy usage fell 1.6% in 2013. With the exception of a slight increase
in 2011, industrial energy consumption has been following a multi-year trend of historically anomalous declines
beginning around 2007. Industrial energy consumption continues to be below historically predicted levels.
The recent trend of energy consumption decreases can be partially attributed to the effects of declining industrial
activity during and following the economic recession. However, the fact that industrial energy consumption per dollar of
industrial output has also decreased — through periods of both expansion and contraction — suggests that other
factors, such as increased energy efficiency, may be responsible.3
3 United States Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA): http://www.bea.gov/regional/index.htm (GDP data)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
19
601
961
19
621
963
19
641
965
19
661
967
19
681
969
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
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821
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841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
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901
991
19
921
993
19
941
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961
997
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981
999
20
002
001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Industrial End-Use Consumption ('60-'13)
Industrial EnergyConsumption
Historical Trend
7000
7500
8000
8500
9000
9500
10000
10500
11000
11500
12000
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
BTU
/$ (
Bas
e 2
00
9)
S.C. Industrial End-Use Consumption Divided by S.C. Industrial Real GDP ('97-'13)
Industrial Energy Consumption/Industrial GDP
12
4.Industrial Sector
Growing by almost 3% after a sharp decrease in 2012 industrial reliance on coal increased slightly in 2013. This increase
was accompanied by increases in natural gas (3%) and purchased electricity (1.8%) and decreases in petroleum (-7.8%),
and biomass (-7.4%). While overall energy use in the industrial sector has been decreasing, general reliance on natural
gas, biomass, and electricity has increased as use of petroleum and coal has declined over a multi-year period.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
19
601
961
19
621
963
19
641
965
19
661
967
19
681
969
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
19
821
983
19
841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
19
901
991
19
921
993
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941
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961
997
19
981
999
20
002
001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
South Carolina Industrial End-Use Energy Consumption by Fuel Type ('60-'13)
Coal
Biomass
Natural Gas
Retail Electricity
Petroleum Products
13
5.Residential Sector
End-use energy consumption in the residential sector increased by 6.9% in 2013. This increase breaks with the recent
anomalous trend in which residential energy consumption has continued to decrease as population has increased. In
the past, residential energy use correlated closely with population growth and remained relatively constant on a per-
capita basis. Despite the increase in 2013, residential energy use remains below the historical trend compared to the
population.
The increase in residential end-use consumption is associated with increases in the fuels that are primarily consumed by
homes. Petroleum reversed its recent downward trend, with residential use rising 6%. Natural gas, which has been
replacing petroleum in recent years, increased by 25%. Electricity continues to be the predominant energy source for
heating, cooling, and providing power to South Carolina homes. Consumption of retail electricity increased by 1.6%.
Additionally, while wood continues to make up a very small portion of residential end-use energy consumption, use of
wood for heating increased substantially (38%) in 2013, a year with a particularly cool winter.
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000
4,500,000
5,000,000
19
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022
003
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042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
Po
pu
lati
on
S.C. Residential End-Use Energy Consumption and S.C. Population ('60-'13)
S.C. Population S.C. Residential Energy Consumption Historical Trend
0
40
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120
160
19
601
961
19
621
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007
20
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009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Residential End-Use Energy Consumption by Major Fuel Type ('60-'13)
Wood
Petroleum Products
Natural Gas
Retail Electricity
14
5.Residential Sector
The average price of all of the most utilized fuels in the residential sector fell between 2012 and 2013, with the
exception of retail electricity. Natural gas decreased by 6%, petroleum products by 0.3%, and wood by 2.7%. The price
of retail electricity remained relatively flat with an increase of 0.44% in 2013.
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
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821
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985
19
861
987
19
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901
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011
20
122
013
$ p
er
Mill
ion
BTU
(b
ase
20
13
)
S.C. Real Average Price by Major Fuel Type in the Residential Sector ('70-'13)
RetailElectricity
NaturalGas
PetroleumProducts
Wood
15
6.Commercial Sector
Commercial end-use energy consumption decreased by 1.6% in 2013. The commercial sector continues to be heavily
reliant on electricity purchases, from which it derived 70.3% of total energy needs at the point of consumption in 2013.
The commercial demand for natural gas and fuel oil spiked between 1976 and 1978 during a period of unusually cold
winters.4
Commercial electricity purchases decreased by 0.6% in 2013, while natural gas increased 11.3%. Petroleum
consumption decreased 6.7%. While retail electricity purchases have continued to provide the vast majority of energy
needs for the commercial sector, natural gas has made modest gains as part of the fuel mix.
4 SCDNR: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
19
601
961
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621
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19
641
965
19
661
967
19
681
969
19
701
971
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761
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005
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011
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013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Commercial End-Use Energy Consumption by Major Fuel Type
PetroleumProducts
Natural Gas
Retail Electricity
72.51 72.06
21.83 24.29
6.00 5.60
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2012 2013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Commercial End-Use Energy Consumption by Major Fuel Type ('12,'13)
Petroleum Products
Natural Gas
Retail Electricity
16
6.Commercial Sector
Total commercial end-use energy consumption has moved up and down with commercial output in recent years.
However, energy use per dollar of commercial GDP has decreased by 23.7% since 1997, thus suggesting greater
efficiency.5
5 BEA: http://www.bea.gov/regional/index.htm (GDP data)
900.00
950.00
1000.00
1050.00
1100.00
1150.00
1200.00
1250.00
1300.00
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
BTU
/$(B
ase
20
09
)
S.C. Commercial End-Use Consumption divided by S.C. Commerical Real GDP ('97-'13)
Commercial Energy Consumption/Commerical Real GDP
17
7.Electricity
More than half of the electricity generated in South Carolina comes from nuclear power. Coal and natural gas make up
the bulk of the remaining generation. Hydroelectric and biomass are the largest renewable electricity generation
resources in the State. However, it is important to note that electricity generated in South Carolina is not necessarily
consumed in the State. South Carolina has two multi-state utilities that generate electricity for their North and South
Carolina customers in South Carolina. This situation means that the generation fuel mix does not solely represent the
consumption by South Carolina customers because much of that electricity is sent across the border.
South Carolina has the third largest nuclear generating capacity in the United States. While coal continues to be the
second largest resource by capacity, a dramatic increase in natural gas has occurred since 2000. In the electric power
sector, natural gas capacity increased from less than 700 MW in 1999 to over 5,300 MW in 2013.
Nuclear 56.49%
Coal 25.41%
Natural Gas 12.32%
Hydroelectric 3.29%
Wood 2.10%
Other Biomass 0.22%
Other 0.06%
Petroleum 0.11%
Solar 0.0001%
Electric Generation in S.C. by Source ('13)
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000
Nuclear
Coal
Natural Gas
Hydroelectric
Wood
Other Biomass
Petroleum
Pumped Storage
Solar
MW
Electric Generating Capacity in S.C. ('13)
18
7.Electricity
In general, commercial, residential, and industrial end-use sectors in South Carolina have significantly increased their
consumption of electricity over the last 40 years. In 2013 there was an increase of 1.6% in electricity consumption in the
residential sector and a decrease of 0.6% in the commercial sector. The industrial sector increased its consumption by
1.8% in 2013. This increase marked the fourth straight year of increased usage after a sharp decrease in the period
directly following the start of the economic recession.
Total South Carolina electricity consumption fell by 1.7% in 2013. Electricity consumption plateaued in 2010 and began
to decrease in the past few years after almost forty years of generally steady increases. Based on the historical trend,
these recent decreases put consumption below expected consumption.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
19
601
961
19
621
963
19
641
965
19
661
967
19
681
969
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
19
821
983
19
841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
19
901
991
19
921
993
19
941
995
19
961
997
19
981
999
20
002
001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Electricity Consumption by Sector ('60-'13)
Commercial
Industrial
Residential
0
200
400
600
800
1000
19
601
961
19
621
963
19
641
965
19
661
967
19
681
969
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
19
821
983
19
841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
19
901
991
19
921
993
19
941
995
19
961
997
19
981
999
20
002
001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Total Electric Energy Consumption ('60-'13)
Total Electric EnergyConsumption
Historical Trend
19
7.Electricity
The leveling in electricity demand can be partially attributed to retail electric prices, which have increased in inflation-
adjusted terms after a long period of real declines.
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
19
821
983
19
841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
19
901
991
19
921
993
19
941
995
19
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997
19
981
999
20
002
001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
$ p
er
Mill
ion
BTU
(b
ase
20
13
)
S.C. Real Retail Electricity Price ('70-'13)
Real Retail Electricity Price
20
8.Petroleum
The transportation sector has seen a large increase in its use of petroleum products since 1960. However, this
consumption has leveled out somewhat in the previous nine years. All other sectors have seen a decrease in their use of
petroleum over the same time period.
With transportation being the largest petroleum consuming sector, motor gasoline is by far the most consumed
petroleum product. The two petroleum products most regularly used in ground transportation (diesel and motor
gasoline) account for 88% of the petroleum used in the State.
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
300
330
360
390
420
450
19
601
961
19
621
963
19
641
965
19
661
967
19
681
969
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
19
821
983
19
841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
19
901
991
19
921
993
19
941
995
19
961
997
19
981
999
20
002
001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
Petroleum Consumption by Sector ('60-'13)
Transportation
Commercial
Electricity
Industrial
Residential
Motor Gasoline 64%
Residual Fuel Oil 2%
Other 6%
Distillate Fuel 24%
Jet Fuel 2%
LPG 2%
Petroleum Usage by Product Type ('13)
21
8.Petroleum
The real average price of all major petroleum products has increased since 1998. Motor gasoline prices increased 153%
and distillate fuel increased by 204%. However, there was a decrease in the price of both of these fuels between 2012
and 2013. While there have been significant price increases over the last fourteen years, consumption of petroleum
products has continued to grow. This trend is consistent with academic findings that demand for transportation fuels is
highly inelastic, and has become even more so in recent years.6
6 See Hughes, J., Knittel, C. and Sperling, D. “Evidence of a Shift in the Short-Run Price Elasticity of Gasoline Demand”. National
Bureau of Economic Research (2006).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
19
821
983
19
841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
19
901
991
19
921
993
19
941
995
19
961
997
19
981
999
20
002
001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
$ p
er
Mill
ion
BTU
(b
ase
20
13
)
Real Average Petroleum Price by Product Type ('70-'13)
Distillate Fuel
Jet Fuel
LPG
Motor Gasoline
Residual Fuel
22
9.Nuclear, Coal and Natural Gas
Nuclear power is a vital energy resource for the State of South Carolina. There are currently seven reactors at four
nuclear power plants in the State, and two more are being constructed. Nuclear power continued as the most cost-
effective source of energy from a price-per-BTU perspective, but the price did increase by 7.9% in 2013. A major barrier
to new nuclear construction is the large upfront capital costs.
South Carolina has no coal mines. However, coal continues to be a major energy resource in the State. This means that
coal must be imported from a number of other States to power domestic coal fired power plants. The price of electricity
produced from coal decreased by 5.53% in 2013.
Natural gas met 14.9% of South Carolina’s total energy needs in 2013, through both direct on-site consumption for
building heating, industrial production, and electric power generation. Between 2008 and 2013, natural gas
consumption by the electric power sector more than doubled. Since 2009 the industrial sector has been the second
largest consumer of natural gas after being overtaken by the electric power sector. Additionally, almost a quarter of
households in South Carolina use natural gas for heating. However, the residential sector lags behind in consumption
due to the prevalence of electric home heating and relatively mild winters. Greater use of this resource has occurred as
prices have decreased nearly fifty percent since 2008. However, the demand for — and cost of — natural gas has
historically been very volatile. They shift in response both to supply-side factors, such as refinery disruptions and
changing availability of fuels for which natural gas is a substitute, and to demand-side factors, such as fluctuations in
temperature and peak demand for electric power.7
7 See EIA, “An Analysis of Price Volatility in Natural Gas Markets.”:
http://www.eia.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/feature_articles/2007/ngprivolatility/ngprivolatility.pdf
0
50
100
150
200
250
19
601
961
19
621
963
19
641
965
19
661
967
19
681
969
19
701
971
19
721
973
19
741
975
19
761
977
19
781
979
19
801
981
19
821
983
19
841
985
19
861
987
19
881
989
19
901
991
19
921
993
19
941
995
19
961
997
19
981
999
20
002
001
20
022
003
20
042
005
20
062
007
20
082
009
20
102
011
20
122
013
Trill
ion
BTU
S.C. Natural Gas Consumption--Electric Generation and Primary End-Use ('60-'13)
Electric Generation
Transportation
Commercial
Residential
Industrial
23
10. Renewables and Alternative Fuels
Renewable energy consumption in South Carolina grew 11.6% in 2013, with solar increasing 6.8% and geothermal use
flat. However, these two resources make up a very small portion of the renewable portfolio in South Carolina. Biomass,
in the form of wood and waste, and hydroelectricity are the two largest renewable resources in the State. Biomass
consumption decreased slightly by 3.9%, while hydroelectric increased by 123% in 2013. The significant rebound in
hydroelectric generation coincided with a period of recovery from drought conditions in much of the State.8 Renewable
sources continued to meet only a small fraction of the consumption needs of the State in 2013.
As mentioned in Section 3 (Transportation Sector), consumption of ethanol and other alternative vehicle fuels increased
in 2013. As the number of alternatively fueled vehicles grows, there will also be an increase in fueling stations offering
those fuels will also occur. The current availability of alternative fuel stations is presented in the chart below. 9
8 SC DNR: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/Drought/drought_current_info.php
9U.S. Department of Energy: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/stations_counts.html
Solar 132 141
Geothermal 648 648
Hydroelectric 13515 30152
Wood and Waste 96346 92618
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
Bill
ion
BTU
S.C. Renewable Energy Consumption ('12,'13)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Biodiesel CNG E85 Electric Hydrogen LNG LPG
27 9
69
162
2 1
56 # o
f St
atio
ns
Alternative Fueling Stations by Type
24
10. Renewables and Alternative Fuels
In spring of 2014, the South Carolina General Assembly passed and the Governor signed the Distributed Energy Resource
Program Act. This legislation is meant to encourage development of solar energy in the State and give citizens greater
access to distributed photovoltaic systems. Currently, most distributed solar generation facilities are located in the most
populous counties and coastal counties. Charleston County has the most installed capacity with over 1100 kW.
0.00 200.00 400.00 600.00 800.00 1000.00 1200.00 1400.00
FlorenceChester
EasleyKereshawBambergRock HillCamden
DarlingtonBarnwell
McCormickGreer
KershawEdgefield
SaludaFairfieldChester
AllendaleCalhoun
UnionOrangeburg
AbbevilleGeorgetown
CherokeeLaurens
GreenwoodLancaster
SumterHamptonAndersonNewberry
ChesterfieldColletonOconee
DorchesterAiken
PickensYork
BerkeleyHorry
RichlandBeaufort
SpartanburgLexingtonGreenville
Charleston
kW AC
Installed PV Capacity by County (customer owned)