COLUMBIA — A Major Chapter Closes in the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station Saga
Sunshine greeted the day in Columbia as residents went about their weekend plans, but for one former energy executive, the clouds of justice finally rolled in. Jeffrey Benjamin, age 62, has officially been sentenced to a year behind bars for lying about a nuclear project that ended up being quite the disaster. This incident remains the biggest business failure in South Carolina’s history, making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The Long Road to Sentencing
On November 20, 2024, Benjamin learned his fate after a lengthy investigation that dug deep into the catastrophic fallout surrounding the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville. There, plans to add two reactors went down in flames, effectively ending what was meant to be a leap forward in energy production in the area.
Previously serving as a vice president at Westinghouse Electric Co., the executive pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the failure to maintain accurate corporate records in a case that has left many scratching their heads. His crime? Knowing that the completion dates for the project slated for August 2019 and 2020 were *way* off course but still keeping that info under wraps from SCANA—the primary company behind the initiative.
A ‘Crisis of Credibility’
Judge Mary Geiger Lewis noted that Benjamin’s deceitful actions allowed SCANA to mislead its investors and customers, keeping the ill-fated project afloat for far too long. As a result, ratepayers were hit with unjustified price hikes to fund a venture that won’t ever yield a single watt of energy.
“What happened here was serious and significant,” Judge Lewis stated during the lengthy hearing, which showcased contentious exchanges between prosecutors and defense attorneys. It was clear that this wasn’t just a minor slip-up; it was a lapse with major ramifications.
Seeking Leniency
In a plea for a more lenient sentence, Benjamin’s legal team argued for probation instead of time served, citing his serious heart condition. They believed the federal prison system wouldn’t be equipped to handle his medical needs. But the U.S. Attorney’s Office took a different stance, arguing that Benjamin showed little remorse for his actions, instead attempting to shift blame onto his former colleagues.
Ultimately, Judge Lewis decided on a prison term of one year, along with a hefty $100,000 fine. Once he finishes his sentence, Benjamin will be on supervised release for two years, giving him plenty of time to reflect on the chaos he helped sow.
Ripple Effects of the Disaster
The fallout from the failed project has rippled across the state. After years of delays, SCANA and its partner, state-owned utility Santee Cooper, pulled the plug on the nuclear construction in 2017. The consequences fell squarely on the shoulders of electric customers who were left footing the bill for a project destined to become a ghost.
In the years that followed, SCANA was absorbed by Virginia’s Dominion Energy, but the scandal cast a long shadow. Benjamin is just one of several executives to face repercussions. The former CEO of SCANA, Kevin Marsh, received a two-year sentence for defrauding ratepayers, while others—including key players from Westinghouse—have also been held accountable in one way or another.
Final Thoughts
With each chapter of this saga closing, the hope resonates that corporate accountability will become a norm rather than an exception. It serves as a vivid reminder that corporate leaders are not above the law and must play by the rules.
As Columbia basks in the November sun, the community can take a collective breath, knowing justice is being served, albeit a bit late. Only time will tell if lessons will truly be learned from the missteps of those who once stood at the helm.
