Seawalls

H.3700 sought to allow the placement of wingwalls at the ends of existing erosion control structures, like seawalls. This bill was referred to the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. The Conservation Community had no position on the bill…

Pyrolysis

The Pyrolysis or Advanced Recycling bill sought to exempt pyrolysis facilities from existing Solid Waste Management laws. Pyrolysis is the melting and gasification of plastics into other petroleum products, like jet fuel. While this process is already permitted in South…

Clean Energy Budget Amendments

Rep. James Smith (D-Columbia) introduced two amendments to the annual budget bill focused on addressing energy planning issues for the PSC and utility generation development.  …

Solar Jobs

H.4421 was introduced to eliminate the net metering cap on residential solar and allow our state’s solar energy sector to continue to produce thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs, lower power bills, and eliminate payment to utilities for “lost revenue”…

Net Metering Cap Increase

Legislators introduced H.5045 to protect the utilities from potential lost revenue and sabotage efforts to continue growing South Carolina’s solar industry. This bad bill was fast-tracked through subcommittee and committee in one day with no debate about its job-killing implications…

Utilities Consumer Advocate

H.4379 was introduced as a result of the failed VC Summer nuclear project. In the fall-out of the project, energy reform leaders in the House crafted the bill to create a Consumer Advocate who would argue for ratepayer protections in…

Anti-Home Rule

H.3529 sought to prohibit communities from adopting local ordinances affecting disposable containers, specifically plastic bags and Styrofoam.

Dam Safety Reform

In response to the floods of 2015-2016, Speaker Lucas (R-Darlington) and Representatives Hiott (R-Pickens), V.S. Moss (R-Cherokee), Pitts (R-Laurens), West (R-Anderson), and Crosby (R-Charleston) and several House members introduced H.3218, which sought to update the dam safety law to give…

Solar Market Growth

S.44 establishes a clear and consistent path for property tax treatment of solar panels and other renewable energy installations, providing an 80% reduction of Fair Market Value for purposes of property tax assessment. The bill also clarifies the current treatment…

Organic Waste/Composting

S. 1022 directs DHEC to develop a five-Year plan to reduce the state’s production of organic waste.