Excerpts from the Coastal Conservation League’s weekly briefing …

Senators Protect Base Funding for the Conservation Bank
This week the Senate debated the FY 2008-2009 Budget and unanimously voted to maintain the base funding for the Conservation Bank, which is projected to be approximately $12-14 million. The Bank’s base funding was in jeopardy of being diverted to other state needs since its enacting legislation required all Conservation Bank funding to cease in years that the state has severe budget shortfalls.  Since the state is $180 million short this year, by law the Bank could not receive ANY funds the next fiscal year unless the General Assembly suspended this clause.  This proviso must also be approved by the House during budget conference committee deliberations.

To ensure the Bank’s base funding will not be in jeopardy in future years, Senator Chip Campsen and 25 Senators have sponsored a bill, S. 1302, to permanently eliminate this harmful language from the law. S.1302 will be considered next Wednesday in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Energy Efficiency Bills will be Heard in the Senate
Next week the Senate Finance Sales Tax Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Billy O’Dell (R-Abbeville), will reconsider several energy efficiency bills from Senator Glenn McConnell’s (R-Charleston) “Energizing the Future” package. Last week the Subcommittee did not approve the bills due to concerns the state could not afford to offer additional rebates, sales tax relief, or tax credits due to South Carolina’s recent economic downturn. However, Subcommittee members, recognizing the importance of this legislation to South Carolina, have agreed to reconsider the bills with amendments to address their concerns over the fiscal impacts.

•S.1141 would establish an incentive program for the purchase of ENERGY STAR certified manufactured homes in South Carolina by providing a $750 rebate payment and a sales tax exemption to consumers.
• S.1142 provides a state income tax credit equal to 20% of the federal credit for qualified expenditures on photovoltaic, solar and fuel cell property and provides a sales tax exemption for the purchase of equipment that produces electricity from a renewable energy source.
• S.1143 provides two one-month sales tax holidays for the purchase of energy efficiency appliances, ranging from water heaters to programmable thermostats during October, National Energy Efficiency Month, and April, National Earth Month.

Also next week, the Senate Agriculture Committee will consider S.1140, by Senator Glenn McConnell. The bill would establish energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for state government, and direct our state’s agencies to procure energy efficient products and to require all state agencies to replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs by July 1, 2011.

Students One Step Closer to Healthier Meals
This week the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee approved the “South Carolina Farm to School Program Act.”H. 4833 by Representatives Dan Cooper (R-Anderson), Laurie Slade Funderburk (D-Kershaw) and others will foster relationships between SC farms and schools in order to provide schools with fresh and minimally processed foods in their school meals. The bill will also help develop healthy eating habits, improve farmers’ incomes and direct access to markets, and to provide students with hands on learning opportunities.

I still roll my eyes at S.1140 — it’s either sad or funny that we need a three year timespan to change our light bulbs.