From the Coastal Conservation League (last Friday) …
Conservation Bank’s Base Funding Hangs in the Balance
This week the House reconsidered its FY 2008-09 Budget in an effort to balance the budget it approved in March. Yesterday the House cut approximately $180 million due to severe revenue shortfalls that occurred in April by adopting amendments to cut many programs and state agencies. Thankfully, the Conservation Bank base funding was not eliminated. However, the House did not adopt the Senate’s proviso language, which would protect Conservation Bank funding this year. Since the proviso was adopted by the Senate, this issue will be part of the Budget Conference Committee’s debate.
General Assembly could insist Coastal Zone Management Rules become Regulations
This week the House Agriculture Environmental Affairs II Subcommittee Chaired by Representative Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville) held a public hearing on H. 5029, a Concurrent Resolution by Representatives Billy Witherspoon (R-Horry) and Dwight Loftis that requests the SCDHEC promulgate the policies of the SC Coastal Zone Management Plan in regulation. Developers and business-interested parties challenged the validity of the Coastal Zone Management Program, which was approved by both the General Assembly and the Governor nearly 30 years ago. The Subcommittee did not take any action on the Resolution this week. However, a second subcommittee was scheduled for Wednesday, May 14th at 9:00 a.m. in Room 410 of the Blatt Building.
Energy Bills Move Forward (and backwards)
H.3395 by Representative Laurie Funderburk (D-Kershaw) was ratified this week (R.247), and the bill is on its way to the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature. The Joint Resolution requires the State Energy Office and the Office of Regulatory Staff to provide a report to the South Carolina General Assembly recommending process and procedures for establishing net metering programs through investor owned utilities and the SC Public Service Authority no later than January 1, 2009.
This week a House Ways and Means Committee tabled S.1140 by Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) that would establish energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for state government and direct state agencies to procure energy efficient products. State agencies would also be required to replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs or a comparable product by July 1, 2011. We are disappointed with the Subcommittee’s action, but we are encouraged that a similar bill, H.4766 by Representative Phil Lowe (R-Florence) will be considered by a Senate Agriculture Subcommittee soon. We are encouraging the Senate to act on H.4766 as soon as possible so that this bill may have a chance of being enacted before the end of the legislative session.
S.1143 by Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) that provides consumers a sales tax holiday during the month of October, National Energy Efficiency Month, for the purchase of certain ENERGY STAR products, including dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners, ceiling fans, fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators, doors, or windows, and certain propane and electric water heaters from July 1, 2009 through 2019 was approved by a House Ways and Means Subcommittee this week. Next Wednesday afternoon 1 and ½ hours upon adjournment of the House, the full Ways and Means Committee will consider S.1143.
