Here’s this week’s update from the Coastal Conservation League. The efforts to undermine our coastal protection program are of particular concern. Bill links appear to be down as I post, so you’ll have to search for them to read the actual language and progress of the bills themselves.
Legislators Question Validity of Coastal Zone Management Program
This week the House Agriculture Environmental Affairs II Subcommittee Chaired by Representative Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville) held a second meeting on H. 5029, a Concurrent Resolution by Representatives Billy Witherspoon (R-Horry) and Dwight Loftis that requests the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) promulgate the policies of the SC Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 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 Concurrent Resolution was approved by the Subcommittee this week, so it will be considered by the full House Agriculture Committee next week. The conservation community opposes the Resolution because it will direct the SC DHEC to rewrite the CZMP and we anticipate that the new regulations could be weaker in their protections of our natural resources in the coastal zone.
Energy Efficiency Bills
H.3395 by Representative Laurie Funderburk (D-Kershaw) was ratified last week (R.247) and signed into law by the Governor this week. 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.
H.4766 by Representative Phil Lowe (R-Florence) was approved by a Senate Agriculture Subcommittee Chaired by Senator Paul Campbell (R-Berkeley) this week. This bill establishes energy efficiency goals for state agencies with a 20% reduction in energy consumption by the year 2020. The bill also requires that incandescent light bulbs be replaced with compact fluorescent light bulbs. H.4766 will be considered by the full Senate Agriculture Committee next week.
S.1143 by Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) 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, windows and certain propane and electric water heaters from July 1, 2009 through 2019. S.1143 was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee this week and will be considered by the full House next week.
S. 1141 by Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) eliminates the state sales tax and provides a $750 tax credit for the purchase of ENERGY STAR certified manufactured homes through 2019. This bill was approved by the Labor, Commerce and Industry Real Estate Subcommittee Chaired by Representative Chip Huggins (R-Lexington). S.1141 will be considered by the full Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee next week.
Conservation Bank’s Base Funding Still Hangs in the Balance
The House and Senate are in the final stages of writing the FY 2008 – 09 Budget with the Budget Conference Committee beginning its deliberations next Monday. A number of differences between the House and Senate budgets will be reconciled next week. One item of importance to the conservation community is the adoption of the Senate proviso that would protect the Conservation Bank’s base funding next year. The Conference Committee members are Senators Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence), John Land (D-Clarendon) and Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) and Representatives Dan Cooper (R-Anderson), Jim Merrill (R-Charleston) and Joe Neal (D-Richland). We will continue to communicate with members of the Budget Conference Committee the importance of the Conservation Bank and adoption of the Senate proviso to ensure Conservation Bank funding is protected for the upcoming fiscal year.
