Senator McConnell Unveils “Energizing the Future”: A legislative package to promote energy efficiency

Filed Under Issues, Caucus, McConnell

At a press conference today at the State House, President Pro Tempore, Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston), unveiled, Energizing the Future, a proposed energy efficiency legislative package.

“Do we wait until we reach a crisis, or do we take positive steps to ensure that our energy sources remain plentiful and affordable?” asked Senator McConnell. “It’s a quality of life issue. It’s about our state. It’s about jobs. It’s about our environment. It’s about our citizens.”
Senator Luke Rankin, (R-Horry), member of the State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee, joined Senator McConnell in his call for a proactive approach to the state’s energy needs. “This legislative package, which makes energy efficient incentives and use of renewable energy available to all classes of people, rich or poor, is an important proactive step toward addressing the state’s future energy needs,” says Senator Rankin. “Likewise, it is equally important that the state evaluate its own use of renewable energy and grow its reliance on such sources as called for in the Energizing the Future legislative package.”

Part of the package includes Operation Empowered, a nonprofit fund to provide assistance to the poor so they can bridge the gap to buy products that will reduce their energy consumption. Operation Empower will be funded by voluntary tax-deductible contributions from private entities and individuals, from grants, and from class-action settlements.

Additional highlights of the Energizing the Future package include: sales tax exemptions on energy efficient manufactured homes, a $750 rebate from the state on energy efficient manufactured homes, energy efficiency and renewable energy procurement goals for the state and state agencies, and a tax credit on distributed renewable energy systems.

“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

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