Duke Energy has submitted a final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking approval to extend operations at its Bad Creek Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Station near Salem, South Carolina, for another 50 years. The facility, which has operated since 1991, is the largest pumped storage hydro station on Duke Energy’s system and serves as a major energy storage resource for the company.
Pumped storage hydroelectric plants work by moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations, allowing them to store and generate energy as needed. This method provides a flexible and emission-free way to deliver large quantities of electricity during periods of high demand. The Bad Creek station plays an important role in meeting the needs of Duke Energy’s nearly 860,000 retail electric customers in South Carolina.
Recently, Duke Energy completed upgrades to all four units at the Bad Creek facility. These improvements increased its total capacity by 320 megawatts, bringing it up to 1,680 megawatts of carbon-free energy available for use across the company’s service area.
The current operating license for Bad Creek expires in July 2027. In preparation for relicensing, Duke Energy consulted with more than 70 stakeholders before submitting its application for a new license that would run for an additional half-century. A decision from FERC is expected before the original license ends.
U.S. Rep. Sheri Biggs stated: “Bad Creek is a cornerstone of South Carolina’s energy infrastructure and a testament to the kind of smart, long-term investment our state needs. I’m proud to support Duke Energy’s efforts to extend operations at this critical facility. This project will help power our communities, support economic growth, and ensure a reliable, affordable energy future for families and businesses across the Upstate.”
Tim Pearson, president of Duke Energy South Carolina, commented: “Extending the life of this ‘marvel in the mountain’ has been a significant part of our planning for the future for many years. 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.”
Duke Energy Carolinas owns about 20,800 megawatts of capacity and supplies electricity throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Its parent company serves approximately 8.6 million electric customers across six states and operates more than 55,000 megawatts of capacity nationwide.
Duke Energy continues investing in grid modernization and cleaner generation sources—including natural gas, nuclear power, renewables and energy storage—to meet growing customer demand while maintaining reliability.
More information can be found on duke-energy.com or through their news center.
