Listen "South Carolina Booms: $9B Google Investment, Renewable Energy Surge, and Measles Outbreak Spark Statewide Transformation"
Episode Synopsis
South Carolina is in the spotlight this week as listeners follow developments across government, business, community life, and public health. According to South Carolina Public Radio, recent top headlines include a surge in business investment, legislative attention on infrastructure, a continued measles outbreak, and the community response to new education and athletic projects in Spartanburg County.Political activity is heating up, especially as candidates in Lexington’s District 88 special election pledge support for congressional term limits, reflecting growing public interest in political accountability, reports U.S. Term Limits. At the statehouse, infrastructure remains a priority; the House SCDOT Modernization Ad Hoc Committee met in Beaufort to review projects like the widening of US 17 and safety enhancements on US 321 and I-95, addressing both immediate needs and long-term economic development, according to the Carolinas AGC legislative update.On the business front, the pace of expansion is remarkable. Clean energy firm Carolina Renewable Products has announced a new $280 million biomass-to-renewable diesel facility in Orangeburg County, serving both as its headquarters and a training hub, with operations expected to begin in late 2026. The company will support local timber growers and advance the state’s growing renewable energy sector, noted by the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Meanwhile, Google revealed a $9 billion investment over two years to expand cloud and AI infrastructure in Dorchester County, adding quality jobs and bolstering tax revenue that will support local schools, detailed by Dorchester County officials. Other significant projects include Meiden America Switchgear’s Laurens County expansion, Keel’s new defense manufacturing jobs in Charleston County, and Pratt Industries’ new facility in York County.Education and infrastructure are also in the spotlight. In Woodruff, ground has broken on the Riverbend project, marking a $50 million investment that will deliver a major athletic complex and the area’s first tuition-free public charter school, Libertas Academy Woodruff, according to the GSA Business Report and related outlets. At USC Aiken, an $8.2 million legislative grant was approved to upgrade the Science and Engineering building, ensuring modern labs for future students and research opportunities.Community health remains an urgent concern. The Department of Public Health is responding to a measles outbreak in the Upstate region, with nineteen reported cases as of October 17, fifteen of them in Spartanburg County. Efforts are underway to contain the spread, given the potential risk to schools and vulnerable populations.Significant weather events have not been widely reported this week, a welcome reprieve as communities focus on growth and public health. With business expansion, legislative action on infrastructure, a strong emphasis on education, and ongoing public health vigilance, South Carolina is experiencing a period of investment and transition.Looking ahead, listeners should watch for the results of the October 21 special election in Lexington, continued developments as Google and other corporations ramp up hiring, and further legislative sessions addressing infrastructure and budget planning. Stay tuned for more updates on the measles outbreak and its community impact, as well as progress at the Riverbend and Carolina Renewable Products sites.Thank you for tuning in and please remember to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI