SC Clean Energy For All

SC Clean Energy For All was a front group created in 2019 to undermine pro-solar legislation passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives. The legislation, also referred to as the Energy Freedom Act, was introduced to help continue the growth of solar energy in the state. The group’s website echoed Duke Energy’s view on the legislation, and the social media advertisements urged constituents to contact lawmakers. 

The legislation ultimately passed and was signed by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2019. The legislation removed the cap of rooftop solar, allowed customers who applied for net metering by June 2021 to receive full retail credit until May 2029, directed the Public Service Commission to promote solar energy projects for low- and moderate-income customers, requires utilities to submit an integrated resource plan every three years and include analysis of alternative futures.

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SC Clean Energy For All’s Ad Spending

Utilities continue to stall and limit climate action by funding front groups to spread climate misinformation and false solutions to solve the crisis through advertising on social media networks.

Using data from the Meta Ad Library API and existing code from Brown University, EPI created a tool to expose the amount utility front groups are spending on advertisements about social issues, elections, or politics across Meta technologies, along with the specific regions the advertisements target.