Work is scheduled to begin on the Highway 11 bridge over I-26 in early September. SCDOT traffic pattern rendering 

Repairs scheduled for aging Highway 11 bridge near Campobello

Spartanburg County, S.C. — Construction is set to begin soon on the Highway 11 bridge near Campobello, as the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) moves forward with long-awaited repairs to the aging structure.

The bridge, which crosses over Interstate 26, has drawn concern from residents and commuters due to its deteriorating condition and a series of temporary fixes over the years. The upcoming repairs aim to address structural issues and improve long-term safety.

Work is scheduled to begin on September 3 and is expected to continue through early October, weather permitting. During this period, the bridge will be closed to through traffic. Once reopened, intermittent lane closures will remain in place as crews complete final phases of the project.

SCDOT officials are urging motorists to exercise caution and reduce speed when traveling near the construction zone to ensure the safety of both workers and drivers. For updates and detour information, residents can visit the SCDOT website or follow local traffic advisories.

Wofford College announces $3 million in endowed funds honoring President Nayef H. Samhat

Spartanburg, S.C. — In a significant show of appreciation for more than a decade of leadership, Wofford College has announced $3 million in commitments to establish three endowed funds in honor of President Dr. Nayef H. Samhat, who will step down in June 2026 after 13 years of transformative service.

The announcement was made by Christopher A.P. Carpenter ’90, chairman of the Wofford College Board of Trustees, during an update on the search for the college’s 12th president. 

The three new endowments are:

• The Nayef H. Samhat Chair of Government and International Affairs, recognizing Samhat’s academic specialization.

• The Nayef H. Samhat Faculty Development Fund, reflecting his dedication to faculty scholarship, leadership, teaching, and mentorship.

• The Nayef and Prema Samhat Endowed Scholarship Fund, honoring the Samhats’ shared commitment to student success and the holistic student experience.

“These funds give people opportunities to join in showing their appreciation for all that Nayef and Prema have given in support of our college,” said Calhoun Kennedy ’89, vice president for philanthropy and engagement. “Every dollar will support students, faculty, and the academic experience — all near and dear to Nayef’s heart.”

The $3 million in initial commitments will allow all three funds to begin making an immediate impact on campus. College officials hope that additional contributions from the Wofford community will further expand their reach and benefit.

Former board chair Mike James ’75, who led the search that brought Samhat to Wofford in 2013, offered a guiding principle for the current presidential transition. “First and foremost, he said to spend the year honoring Nayef and Prema and their many contributions to Wofford,” Carpenter said. “I think we’re off to a good start.”

Under Samhat’s leadership, Wofford has experienced substantial growth and development:

• The college’s endowment more than tripled, from $141 million to $516 million.

• Net assets rose from under $200 million to over $700 million.

• Over 20 campus facilities were constructed or renovated.

• Applications increased by 58%, with the Class of 2029 reaching 4,459 applicants.

• The acceptance rate dropped to 52%, reflecting greater selectivity and academic strength in each new class.

“We have accomplished so much under Nayef’s strategic leadership. The college has never been in a stronger position, and I’m proud to join trustees and community leaders in honoring the legacy of Nayef and Prema Samhat,” Carpenter added. 

Samhat expressed gratitude to the college community: “Wofford College embraced us 12 years ago, and we have always felt the strongest commitment to this college and all the people who make Wofford so special. We are humbled by the gifts in our honor that will continue to support student and faculty success.”

The search for Wofford’s next president is underway, as the college community prepares to celebrate and build upon the lasting legacy of Dr. Nayef and Prema Samhat.

Spartanburg Community College receives $200,000 gift from Truist to advance heavy equipment program 

Compiled from information provided by Spartanburg Community College

Spartanburg Community College recently announced that the Truist Foundation has made a $200,000 donation to support its Heavy Equipment Program. The program, launching this month, strengthens the college’s ability to train the next generation of skilled equipment operators, according to officials.

The program is an initiative created in direct response to the Penny Tax to support Spartanburg County’s expanding infrastructure projects.

With the grant from the Truist Foundation, officials said SCC is investing in hands-on training that will prepare students for high-demand careers in construction and public works.

“We’re proud of Spartanburg Community College for preparing the next generation of skilled workers,” said Truist’s Spartanburg Market President Juwan Ayers, who also serves on the SCC Foundation Board of Directors.

Ayers added, “Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and grants like this one show our commitment to the local area.”

Officials said the contribution has already made an impact, funding the purchase of a new Mini Excavator, and will continue to provide critical support in the months ahead.

Additional funds from the gift will be allocated to support the salary of the Heavy Equipment Program director for one year,  and provide maintenance and repairs for previously donated/purchased heavy equipment, ensuring all machinery remains in top working condition for training purposes.

"Our Heavy Equipment Program is a pathway to economic mobility and workforce resilience. Truist Bank's incredible donation has empowered our college to equip our students with the tools, skills, and certifications needed to meet the growing demand in construction and infrastructure sectors locally and throughout South Carolina,” said Michael Mikota, Ph.D., president of Spartanburg Community College. 

Duke Energy is asking state and federal regulators to approve to a merger of its two utility companies providing power to North and South Carolina. To get the Palmetto State to agree, the utility company wants to shuffle money around between customer groups to prevent potential sticker shock to its electric customers in the Upstate. (File photo by Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor) 

Duke Energy shuffles costs to make proposed Carolinas merger more attractive to SC

By: Jessica Holdman 

SCdailygazette.com

Duke Energy is asking state and federal regulators to approve to a merger of its two utility companies providing power to the Palmetto and Tar Heel states.

To get South Carolina regulators to agree, the utility company proposes shuffling money around between customer groups to prevent potential sticker shock to its electric customers in the Upstate.

Duke’s customers in the Pee Dee and eastern North Carolina pay more per megawatt than customers in the Upstate, Charlotte area and western North Carolina. Merging the companies could result in major hikes for customers in South Carolina’s northwest corner, if they’re asked to pay more for a portion of the East’s more expensive power costs.

So, rather than possibly seeing their bills go down, Duke’s wholesale customers — which include South Carolina’s electric cooperatives — will forgo $55 million annually over five years to keep Upstate bills steady. Meanwhile, North Carolina customers would give up $25 million worth of savings annually over six years, according to filings made with the two states’ utility regulators.

That means the merger itself won’t make rates go up or down, according to the company.

Duke Energy has provided power in the Pee Dee for more than a decade, after buying out Progress Energy. Still, Duke operated the Progress territory as a separate entity, with the company saying in 2012 it would merge the two at a later date.

With the Carolinas continuing to rank among the fastest growing states in the nation, according to U.S. Census data, Duke Energy tells regulators now is the time to bring the two service areas under one umbrella.

The merger would cost about $143 million, according to company filings, which doesn’t detail what that includes. But the company says it could produce about $3.2 billion in cost savings by 2038 by negating the need for additional power generation.

That projection does not mean power bills will go down.

Nearly all of that savings would come from the two territories acting as one, instead of performing legal and regulatory gymnastics to get each area’s customers the power they demand, according to the filings.

Since the Progress buyout, Duke claims to have saved customers across both areas upwards of $1 billion by buying fuel in bulk and sharing power generated at plants across both territories.

“But regulations limit further coordination between the two utilities; only a full combination can unlock additional savings,” according to a company statement.

The 2012 agreement lets the two companies share power back and forth to meet spikes in demand as needed. But they each still 10have to own and operate their own power sources, enough to keep the lights on in the two territories separately.

Furthermore, when power companies begin the multi-year process of constructing a new power plant, they tend to overbuild in anticipation of future growth. Under its current arrangement, if Duke ends up with extra power in the Pee Dee, it can’t simply put that excess — from a power plant paid for by Pee Dee customers — toward meeting demand in the Upstate, and vice versa.

Merging the two areas into one big territory would change that and make Duke’s overall balance sheet look better to investors by not leaving underutilized power sources on the books, according to Duke Energy.

Federal regulations also require the company to have access to reserve power for emergencies and a strategy for what to do if either area’s largest respective power source goes down. If they joined together, they would need backup plans for just one plant — McGuire Nuclear Station near Charlotte — if the reactor couldn’t operate for whatever reason.

Duke’s target date for the merger is Jan. 1, 2027.

The merger is separate from Duke’s earlier requests to increase power rates for all of its 857,000 South Carolina customers.

Power bills for Duke Energy residential customers in the Upstate could go up, on average, by $10.38 a month in March 2026. In the Pee Dee, residential customers could see a $21.66 monthly hike starting February 2026.

That would bring the bill for a so-called average household in the Upstate to about $154 a month.

Electricity would continue to be more expensive in the Pee Dee. The average bill for households there would rise to roughly $167 in March if the request is approved.

Then, if the merger is approved in 2027, Duke said it would gradually shift the two sets of rates until they are evenly matched.

Rates would still be handled differently across state lines, with North Carolina and South Carolina setting those separately under the authority of each state’s regulators.

The merger and rate hikes come on the heels of a massive new energy law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster in May.

Within that legislation is a provision making it easier for power companies to raise rates on an annual basis. Duke has not invoked the new process and has “not yet created a plan as to how and when to use this new tool,” a company spokesman previously told the SC Daily Gazette.

Still, the company highlighted the change as a positive when speaking with investors during its most recent earnings call last week.

At least one group — the South Carolina Policy Council, a think tank that advocates for limited government and free markets — remains skeptical that South Carolinians will benefit.

“They have their own reasons for the merger that are beneficial to them,” said Neil Wolin, a member of the Policy Council’s research team.

But it’s disingenuous to pitch the merger as a benefit and cost savings to customers when they won’t see any of that supposed savings in their utility bills, Wolin said.

“I don’t think South Carolinians are interested in deciphering” the benefits of rate relief amid rate hikes, Wolin continued. “They are getting their electricity bills, and they’re going up. No matter how many times (companies) say rates are going down, they are not. And that is the main issue.”