Trails bill passes Senate!

Last week, we were thrilled to see the Trails Tax Credit Bill (H.3121) pass the Senate unanimously! This bill has been a top priority for us since it was introduced and championed by Spartanburg Representative Max Hyde. By offering a tax credit (10 cents per square foot) to property owners who agree to add a voluntary, perpetual trail easement, the state is recognizing the value of this generosity to communities and signaling to companies looking to locate here that South Carolina prioritizes quality of life for its residents. The bill now heads back to the House for concurrence with a minor amendment that adjusts the date to reflect an updated timeline.

Two bills, three committee meetings, and a rush against the clock

The pace for the Ten-Year Energy Transformation Act (H.5118) accelerated last week when the House LCI Public Utilities Subcommittee met Tuesday to amend the bill and send it to the full committee. They even changed the bill name to the “SC Energy Security Act.” With lawmakers and staff working late into the night, the full LCI Committee took up an additional amendment Wednesday morning and passed the bill with a favorable report.

With the bill scheduled for debate on the House floor this week, your Representative needs to hear from you about the importance of public notice and sufficient review for energy projects, and the need to meet near-term energy demand with solar, energy efficiency, and other resources that can be brought online in the next 2 - 4 years, not the next decade. You can reach out to your legislator here.

As amended, H.5118 retains legislative endorsements for a massive combined cycle natural gas plant as well as language that authorizes Santee Cooper to serve as an “anchor subscriber” for natural gas and pipeline capacity, which could facilitate a substantial buildout of pipelines cutting through private property. The amendments also addressed several of our concerns about the bill, including language that would have compromised PSC decisions on natural gas plants and other proposed limits on public and advocate interactions with the PSC.

On balance, we remain concerned with aspects of the bill that endorse risky investments without public disclosures, facilitate unnecessary buildout of pipeline infrastructure, and compromise consumer protections and private property rights.

Senate Judiciary Subcommittee begins energy work

The Senate’s version of an energy omnibus bill, the Energy Reform Act (S.909), received a subcommittee hearing last week as well, fueling questions on the similarities and differences between the two bills. Senator Tom Davis (Beaufort) explained this bill's genesis and an amendment that would provide substantial improvements. You can watch last week’s subcommittee hearing here. Stay tuned for more analysis on this bill as the conversation progresses.

What’s clear is that there are multiple bills, including the SC Energy Security Act (H.5118) and the Energy Reform Act (S.909), presenting very different visions for our energy future, and lawmakers have important decisions ahead.