South Carolina utility exec resigns after fighting firing

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The executive who led South Carolina’s state-owned utility during a scuttled multibillion-dollar project to build two nuclear reactors is stepping down after the governor wanted to fire him.

Santee Cooper board chairman Leighton Lord gave his resignation letter to Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday.

McMaster said on Dec. 8 he planned to fire Lord because he failed to turn over all documents Santee Cooper had about the two nuclear reactors being built at the V.C. Summer plant.

Lord denied the governor’s accusations. In his resignation letter, he says Santee Cooper has capable leaders in place.

Santee Cooper partnered with private company SCANA Corp. and they both spent around $9 billion on the failed project.

McMaster’s office says the governor now wants to concentrate on getting money back to ratepayers.