Powering a New South
Powering a New South is an interactive, multimedia project which showcases regional voices and how we are affected by our energy choices. Students from across the university, including those in marine science and photography, traveled across the state to interview community members, policy makers and activists to understand the future of South Carolina's electricity. The project was developed just as the last of South Carolina's coal plants, including the one closest to Coastal Carolina University, shuttered, and while politicians debated whether or not to open up the Carolina coast to oil exploration. This project works to tell the stories of South Caorlina's large, complicated power system through the eyes of the people and communities on the front lines.
The Project
Powering a New South employs local voices to make sense of the emerging energy landscape in South Carolina. In a region that's exploring offshore drilling and wind energy, the project represents a diverse set of voices: from a student struggling to pay his electric bill to an activist who fought offshore drilling. These narratives are annotated with scientific, policy, and environmental research that contextualizes these voices in a global conversation through an interactive digital publication. The project also includes a cellphone solar power bank to make renewable energy more available and collectively impact users' carbon footprint.
AFFORDABILITY
- Unemployment in South Carolina
- Solar in Poor Communities
- Solar Affordability
- Santee Cooper DG-15 Solar Bill
- Santee Cooper Board Diversity
- Nuclear Energy in South Carolina
- Housing Development Along the Grand Strand
- History of the Waccamaw Indians
- Global Electricity Access
- Energy Use Comparisons : US vs. World; SC vs. US
CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
- Water and Energy Connection
- The Clean Power Plan
- The Carbon Cycle
- Santee Cooper Vs. Private Utility on Information access
- Santee Cooper Board Diversity
- Nuclear Energy in South Carolina
- History of the Waccamaw Indians
- Hardening and Resiliency
- Energy Use Comparisons : US vs. World; SC vs. US
- Energy in South Carolina
CULTURAL HERITAGE
- Spirituality of Renewable Energy
- Salt Marshes
- Retiree Demographics of Horry and Georgetown County
- Pawleys Island Wind Turbines Ordinance
- Oil Industry v. Fishing Industry
- Native American Natural Resource Ownership
- Hurricane Joaquin: October 2015 Flooding
- History of the Waccamaw Indians
- Environmental Justice
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
- Sustainable Development
- Spirituality of Renewable Energy
- Solar in Poor Communities
- New Orleans Solar
- Native American Natural Resource Ownership
- Global Electricity Access
- Germany as a Role Model
- First-World Predation on Third-World Nations
- Energy Use Comparisons : US vs. World; SC vs. US
- Climate Change
INDUSTRY & DEVELOPMENT
- Woody Biomass and Wood Pellets
- Unemployment in South Carolina
- The Clean Power Plan
- Sustainable Development
- Solar Shingles: Non-Conventional Rooftop Solar
- Solar in Poor Communities
- Solar Affordability
- Santee Cooper Vs. Private Utility on Information access
- Santee Cooper Board Diversity
- Pawleys Island Wind Turbines Ordinance
SOUTH CAROLINA
- Unemployment in South Carolina
- Solar in Poor Communities
- SODA- Stop Offshore Drilling in the Atlantic
- Santee Cooper Vs. Private Utility on Information access
- Santee Cooper DG-15 Solar Bill
- Santee Cooper Board Diversity
- Salt Marshes
- Retiree Demographics of Horry and Georgetown County
- Pawleys Island Wind Turbines Ordinance
- Oil Industry v. Fishing Industry
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Credits
Students
Dorthy Thompson, Graphic Design
Dorothy has roots in Georgetown County. Growing up in this region she is personally connected to the environment and sustainability of the area. She is the lead web designer for this project and is excited to be involved in something that can make such a huge impact.
Ashley Nielsen, Graphic Design
Ashley is a senior graphic design major that is graduating in May 2016. She has worked with the Athenaeum Press for the past year and was also the designer for the book, A War on Two Fronts. This project was able to further her experience as a designer while producing a product that could make a difference in the environment. Her goal in life is to become a successful graphic designer.
Josh Wysong, Graphic Design
Josh is a driven photographer with graphic design skills. He plans on graduating in the Fall/2016 with a bachelor's degree in graphic design and a minor in photography. This is the second year working with the Athenaeum Press, as lead photographer/videographer. Josh was born and raised in the historic river town of Conway, South Carolina home of Coastal Carolina University.
Sarah Baker, Marine Science and Environmental Science
Learning about the struggles of today’s world, she has realized how incredibly important it is to be well-informed, open-minded, and selfless in hopes of creating a positive and healthy world for the future. She became involved in the “Powering a New South” project because she sees how important it is to bridge the gap between science and the public.
Nicholas Blair, Finance
Nicholas is interested in how climate change shapes our economic environment. He feels that working with businesses and municipalities on clean energy alternatives can not only improve the health of ourselves and our surroundings, but bring positive impacts economically, for jobs and revenues alike. Nick seeks to bridge the gap between science and politics, and work with others to help build a better future for our communities.
Kelly Shelton, Philosophy and Political Science
Kelly is a senior who is passionate about preserving the natural heritage and regional nature-based cultures that have defined our region, such as the Gullah Geechee, commercial fishing and shell-fishermen, and the traditional agricultural farming families.
The Athenaeum Press has made it possible to explore sustainable energy options that could sustain and benefit these nature-based cultures and also create a new economy for all citizens of South Carolina.
Courtney Kohavi, Political Science
Courtney has focused her Political Science major around the environment and sustainability. She is interested in attending graduate school in an area surrounding the concept of sustainability. This project and topic is important to her because energy touches everyone's lives in some way or another. Taking a huge topic and making it local and relatable has been one of the greatest rewards.
Cheyenne Neff, Marine Science (Applied Math minor)
Cheyenne is a graduating senior interested in atmospheric-ocean interactions and how climate change will affect these interactions. She also hopes to eventually be involved in helping the public, as well as politicians, understand that climate change is a real phenomenon.
Cassandra Ratliff, Environmental Sustainability (Journalism minor)
Cassandra is passionate about bringing together the political, social and environmental aspects of sustainability in order to offer real world solutions to our local and global environmental crises. She dreams of working as a full-time journalist and freelance writer to expose environmental issues around the world, so that we can work towards a more sustainable future.
Samuel Casey, Intelligence & National Security Studies
Sam is a senior interested in how energy development affects security and political protocols. He is a native of Conway, SC and wants to see the natural beauty of the area preserved without ruining the economic foundations of the region.
Bradley Angstadt, Biology and Marine Science
Brad is big into planning for the future and how we treat the Earth today is a huge concern for him. He takes what he learns in genetics, conservation, physiology, animal behavior, and marine classes and connects it to human impacts both locally and globally. He hopes better understanding our impacts will allow us to make a better future for ourselves and everything else on this planet.
Faculty Advisors
Alli Crandell
Alli Crandell serves as the project manager for The Athenaeum Press and the Digital Content Coordinator for the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Since working with Dr. Martin and the students on the project, she notices clear-cut sites, remnants of coal plants, and solar panels on houses.
Pam Martin
Pamela Martin is a Professor in the Department of Politics. Her teaching and research cover issues of energy, sustainable development, policy, and international relations. Her work with the students and Alli Crandell on this project has opened her eyes to the real story of energy: people and our natural world. Martin now has a much deeper appreciation for the South and its overwhelming potential to power today's and future generations.