A private company is offering South Carolina’s state-owned utility $2.7 billion to complete two abandoned nuclear plants. The deal between utility Santee Cooper and Brookfield Asset Management is far from final, with negotiations expected to last up to two years. Brookfield would keep at least 75% of the power generated which could be in demand by high energy using data centers. If the deal goes through, most of Santee Cooper’s debt from the failed project to build the reactors last decade would be erased. However, watchdog groups warn of significant hurdles, including inspections and permit renewals, before the reactors can be operational.