Moore: County must tap resources

Urges Berkeley to utilize 3 assets in global market

South Carolina financier and philanthropist Darla Moore, long considered one of the most powerful women in American business, urged Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce members Friday to tap the county's tremendous energy resources to compete in the global marketplace.

The Lake City native said the county's proximity to the Port of Charleston, its vast timber holdings and the resources of state-owned utility Santee Cooper to build coal and nuclear power plants are three huge assets that can help its economic well- being and reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil.

"We must build on our own assets as a way to sustain a vibrant economy," Moore said. "We have to go beyond being cheaper, faster and better. Our competition is no longer Greenville or Columbia. It is China, Mexico and India."

Moore outlined three assets the county has to help it produce products that foreign nations can't compete with.

First, Berkeley is well-positioned to take advantage of the new port terminal being built on the Cooper River on the former Charleston Naval Base in North Charleston.

"The port must have a better system of distribution," she said. Berkeley's proximity gives it a leg up on helping transport products inland to help reduce fuel consumption.

Moore also pointed out that, of the 703,712 acres that make up Berkeley County, 552,929 acres are forestland.

"That is an asset," she said.

Berkeley's forestland constantly needs thinning, and wood waste can be used as an alternative fuel source, Moore said.

"This is a value-added asset," she said.

Moore said that South Carolina uses 3 billion gallons of gasoline a year, and that equates to more than $10 billion that leaves the state for foreign countries.

Lastly, she said, the county and state have been spoiled with abundant, reliable energy, but the world is rapidly changing as the competition in China, Mexico and India consume natural resources and oil at escalating rates.

"We must find alternative energy," she said. "The only long-term solution is nuclear energy. It is the least expensive with no greenhouse gases, and it's not controlled by the Middle East. New nuclear generators can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse emissions."

Moore also said America is blessed with immense amounts of coal and new technologies are being produced to help with emissions from coal-fired energy plants.

She mentioned the controversy over Santee Cooper's proposed coal-fired plant in the Pee Dee and said it is needed to meet the demands of the region and help grow its economy.

"There has to be a balance," she said. "These are challenging times. We are changing by the day. Everybody can feel it. The fight is on, and the competition is fierce. We must be smart and put aside our parochial interests."

Moore said Berkeley County's per capita income was $27,508 last year or 91 percent of the state average and 74 percent of the national average. The county's per capita income has increased from 37th in the state 10 years ago to 19th now, she said.

"You have grown, but not as fast as the national average," said Moore, vice president of Rainwater Inc. and founder and chairwoman of the Columbia-based Palmetto Institute, a nonprofit think tank aimed at improving increasing the per-capita income in South Carolina.

Moore, who has donated $70 million to the business school at the University of South Carolina, said she wants a more prosperous economy in her home state.

"I'm not running for office, and I don't need any more money," she said. "You have to raise the bar for everyone to increase wealth of every South Carolinian."

Reach Warren Wise at 745-5850 or wwise@postandcourier.com.