SC clean energy, Interstate 526 funds, FDA leader | Letters to the Editor
Clean energy boosts SC
Voters have elected a new administration that promises good jobs in American manufacturing.
The administration will have a strong base to build upon in clean energy technology, and South Carolina will get a big share.
The U.S. Postal Service will buy 50,000 delivery trucks, 75% of which will be electric. They will be built in Spartanburg.
Funding under the Inflation Reduction Act awarded $45 million to the state Department of Commerce for the S.C. Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy, $124 million to the Office of Resilience for solar energy and $65 million for electric school buses for state school districts.
Tax breaks are enabling BMW to invest $1.7 billion in electric vehicles in Spartanburg and high-voltage products in Woodruff. Redwood Materials received a $2 billion loan for a battery materials facility near Charleston.
In fact nationally, 85% of the law’s funding will go to Republican House districts. For this reason, 18 Republican House members wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson to protect the law.
So far, none were from South Carolina districts. Rolling back the clean energy provisions would harm manufacturing and economic opportunity in our state.
Please join me in urging South Carolina’s congressional delegation to join their colleagues in protecting these provisions.
MARK GOULD
Charleston
Money wasted on I-526
It appears that the Interstate 526 extension is in hospice waiting for the end to arrive as Charleston County Council works to settle the matter with the state.
Then its death will be announced.
But the real question is: How much taxpayer money has been wasted by County Council members on this folly?
I suppose they don’t like hearing the word “waste,” but what do you call spending millions of dollars and having nothing to show for it?
It is fair and reasonable to ask which council members led the charge to extend the road.
Then we must ask why other members bought into the folly.
In the real world — at home and at work — most are held accountable for bad decision-making.
Let’s keep in mind that we are not talking only about money, but the eminent domain process that forced people out of their homes. Yes, residents were compensated, but they were still forced out.
Also, look at Charleston County roads that have been neglected as taxpayer money was wasted on I-526.
If we made such a big mistake in our jobs, we would either have to resign or be fired.
In this case, we have County Council members who are hoping we will forget their wastefulness and reelect them. They won’t get my vote.
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN
Seabrook Island
Hannibal Lecter for FDA?
I’m waiting on the announcement that the “late, great Hannibal Lecter” is actually real and has been nominated as head of the Food and Drug Administration. We all could break out the Chianti and fava beans in celebration.
JACKIE STRINGER
Charleston
Send us your letters
What’s on your mind? Join our community conversations and let your voice be heard by writing a letter to the editor. Letters can be a maximum of 250 words, and are subject to editing for clarity, tone and libel. They must include the writer’s name and city for publication, and a daytime telephone number for verification. Email your submissions to letters@postandcourier.com or fill out the form on our online portal.
