SANTEE COOPER
Green Power and RBC Heritage: A perfect pairing for nine years

Palmetto Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper once again teamed up with the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing to power the 2017 tournament with 100 percent Green Power, making the RBC Heritage and Green Power the perfect pairing for the environment and South Carolina for nine years in a row.

RBC Heritage will purchase Santee Cooper Green Power from Palmetto Electric Cooperative for the duration of the 2017 tournament, which plays April 10-16 at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island. The tournament was the first major Green Power event in the state, back in 2009.

Santee Cooper generates Green Power from clean, renewable energy sources including landfill biogas, solar power and wind power within South Carolina. In fact, in 2001 Santee Cooper became the first utility to generate Green Power and offer it for sale in South Carolina, and Palmetto Electric Cooperative  signed on as one of the first cooperatives in the state to offer Green Power to its members.

"As South Carolina's most significant sporting event and one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the country, we are committed to thinking green and are proud to make 2017 the ninth year in a row we power the RBC Heritage with Green Power," said Steve Wilmot, tournament director for RBC Heritage. "Buying renewable energy has led us to implement a number of other environmental programs during tournament week. I'd like to send out a friendly challenge to other golf events across the state to make their greens even greener by purchasing Green Power."

In addition to purchasing Green Power for this event, RBC Heritage has dedicated space for a Green Power booth on The Heritage Lawn, near the 18^th fairway, to educate spectators about renewable energy benefits. South Carolina residents who visit the booth will also be able to sign up to purchase Green Power for their own electric needs.

"Palmetto Electric, in partnership with Santee Cooper, is excited to make the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament's greens even greener," said Berl Davis, president and CEO of Palmetto Electric Cooperative. "We look forward to being at the tournament and promoting our renewable energy program. We are also proud to be the largest electric cooperative provider of Green Power in the state of South Carolina."

"The RBC Heritage Golf Tournament's pairing with Green Power hit a hole in one and is setting the standard of environmental stewardship for others to follow," said Lonnie Carter, Santee Cooper president and CEO. "We congratulate the Heritage and Palmetto Electric Cooperative on their longstanding commitment to Green Power, and we look forward to working with them during future events."

Santee Cooper began generating renewable Green Power when it opened the Horry County Landfill Generating Station, which produces electricity from methane gas created by naturally decomposing garbage. Now producing 29 megawatts of Green Power, Santee Cooper has six landfill biogas stations in commercial operation. It also has solar arrays generating power for the grid, 28 demonstration solar projects at middle schools around the state including two in partnership with Palmetto Electric, and a wind power project.

Customers of Santee Cooper and the state's electric cooperatives can purchase Green Power each month through their electric bills. For just two dimes a day, Green Power has the environmental impact of not driving a car for almost three months (source: EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator using 200 kwh/month for the state of South Carolina). Green Power is Green-e Energy certified, and meets the environmental and consumer-protection standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. Learn more at www.green-e.org.

RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is the only PGA TOUR event in South Carolina. Played over the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island since 1969, the event is celebrating its 49th year April 10-16, 2017. The Heritage Classic Foundation, general tournament sponsor, distributes the proceeds from the tournament to hundreds of non-profit organizations. Since it was founded as a 501 (c)(3) in 1987, the Foundation has donated close to $35 million to people in need. For information, call 843-671-2448, visit rbcheritage.com or Facebook (RBC Heritage) and Twitter (@RBC_Heritage).

Palmetto Electric Cooperative is a non-profit electrical distribution utility that is owned by the members it serves. The Cooperative serves over 70,000 consumers in southern Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties. Palmetto Electric's mission is to deliver competitively priced, reliable energy and innovative related services to its members and to provide leadership and support to the communities we serve. For more information, visit palmetto.coop or call 843-208-5551.

Palmetto Electric is also a member of Touchstone Energy, which is a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to customers large and small. More than 750 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 46 states are delivering energy and energy solutions to approximately 40 million customers every day. Touchstone Energy cooperatives serve their members with integrity, accountability, innovation and a longstanding commitment to communities.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina's largest power provider, the largest Green Power generator and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper powers South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com