Twelve South Carolina college students spent their summer getting dirty as part of Santee Cooper's prestigious environmental intern program.

Interns worked for two weeks each in four areas that include conservation and renewable energy, analytical and biological services, environmental services, property management, vector management, investment recovery, right of way management, and air quality.

Interns from Columbia included Anna Dilworth who attends the University of South Carolina, and Emmett Dalton, a student at Clemson.

The interns also took part in a research project for utility President and Chief Executive Officer Lonnie Carter. The project examined the feasibility of alternative and renewable energy sources in South Carolina. Santee Cooper has a goal of generating 40 percent of its energy by 2020 from nongreenhouse gas emitting resources, biomass fuels, conservation, and energy efficiency.

More information about the annual program is available at www.santeecooper. com.