HIGHLIGHTS OF SENATOR McCONNELL’S “ENERGIZING THE FUTURE” PACKAGE
OPERATION EMPOWERED: Introduced today in the Senate.
The bill that would create a private, non-profit fund administered by the Office of Regulatory Staff and overseen by the Public Utility Review Committee (called “Operation Empowered”) to give assistance to low-income South Carolinians to invest in measures that will reduce their energy consumption.
Operation Empowered will be funded by voluntary tax-deductible contributions from private entities and individuals, from grants, and from class-action settlements.
The Office of Regulatory Staff would promulgate regulations to ensure that the recipients of funds disbursed would go to qualifying individuals, that the public would be educated on energy efficiency and the Operation Empowered program, and that all funds would be used to the end of energy efficiency.
Subsequent legislation to be introduced.
Sales tax exemption on energy efficient manufactured homes.
Most manufactured homes are among the least energy efficient structures in our state. (22% of the housing served by our state electric cooperatives are manufactured homes).
Along with the strain that inefficient manufactured housing puts on the electric system is the strain that high electricity bills can place on South Carolina’s residents who frequently can least afford it.
By removing tax on the sale of energy efficient manufactured homes, the state will be making energy efficient manufactured mobile homes more affordable and hopefully getting more people to purchase them.
A $750.00 rebate from the state on energy efficient manufactured homes.
In addition to removing state enforced cost barriers for efficient manufactured homes, we have an opportunity to reward consumers that choose an efficient manufactured home with a rebate from the state.
Working in conjunction with the sales tax exemption, a rebate from the state will not only send the appropriate message to buyers, but will, in some cases, make the financial difference between an efficient and an inefficient home negligible.
Energy efficiency goals for state agencies.
With energy costs rising, economics have begun the process of forcing South Carolinians to change the way we live and how we use energy.
It is crucial that as we move forward toward a new energy economy that the state set the example by implementing new programs and procedures to achieve real energy savings.
To that end, we intend to ask every state agency to reduce its energy consumption by 1% per year for 5 years with an ultimate goal of 20% energy efficiency by the year 2020.
Renewable energy procurement goals for SC State agencies.
In addition to tightening our belt when it comes to energy consumption, it is also important for the state to lead the way in promoting the development of new renewable energy infrastructure.
Renewable energy programs already are available through the state’s Investor Owned Utilities, electric cooperatives and the state’s Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper).
By requiring each agency to purchase a portion of its energy through a native renewable energy source, we will nurture a fledgling industry into maturity.
We intend to require each state agency to obtain a certain percentage of its energy from a renewable source gradually over the next several years.
Our goals are 1% by 2010, 2.5% by 2015, 5% by 2020 and 10% by 2025.
Procurement requirements for the state of SC.
The state purchases a tremendous amount of equipment for its operational uses each year.
Accordingly, a wise use of each and every purchasing opportunity can have a tremendous effect on the amount of energy the state uses each year.
We will propose a requirement that all equipment purchased by the state is energy star certified, when available.
Tax credit on distributed renewable energy systems.
Another fledgling industry in South Carolina is the distributed renewable energy industry.
A distributed renewable energy system is one that uses a renewable energy source (like wind, solar or water) that is located on a homeowner’s property to provide all or a portion of the homeowner’s energy needs.
As with many new industries, the price of many of these systems is still relatively high.
While the technology to lower the cost of these systems is developed, there is a need for the state to encourage individuals to invest in these systems.
The federal government already provides an incentive for individuals who wish to purchase one of these systems for their home.
South Carolina should do its part to make these systems more affordable for our citizens by doing our part and providing a state tax credit worth 20% of the federal tax credit.
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[...] “The cleanest kilowatt of electricity to generate is the kilowatt you do not have to generate at all,” says Senator McConnell. HIGHLIGHTS OF SENATOR McCONNELL’S “ENERGIZING THE FUTURE” PACKAGE [...]