Panel details energy action planBy Yvonne Wenger (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Ben Hagood COLUMBIA — South Carolina emissions could be brought back to 1990 levels by 2020, and 10 percent of energy could come from renewable sources and new efficiency standards — if the state adopts a set of 50 recommendations outlined in a report due out this month from Gov. Mark Sanford's Climate, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee. "The governor asked us to look carefully at how we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in South Carolina and at the same time increase opportunities for growing our economy and also to have a sound energy plan," said outgoing Rep. Ben Hagood, a Republican from Sullivan's Island tapped to lead the group. The committee marked the first effort of its kind at the state level; it was formed by Sanford's executive order in February 2007. "We're looking forward to the task force's recommendations," Sanford press secretary Joel Sawyer said. "While a lot of the challenges we're facing, like energy costs and climate change, are much bigger than South Carolina, we want to see what our state can do in terms of offering solutions." Hagood said the recommendations would need to be instituted through legislation, regional planning, new policies, executive orders, tax incentives and credits, community interest and local government ordinances. The committee is finalizing the report, which will be posted on its Web site. There, the public can submit feedback to be included in an appendix to be wrapped up in a final version presented to Sanford and legislators in the fall, Hagood said. "What we're really talking about here is how we use and consume energy," Hagood said. "There is an environmental component, a financial component and a national security component; it's about how we use energy in our homes and our businesses and in our cars and during our recreational time." The recommendations fall into several categories: --Developing energy efficiency programs to help residential, commercial and industrial consumers reduce energy use. --Enhancing education efforts. --Drafting a renewable energy portfolio, which would encompass new nuclear energy proposals. --Improving development patterns and upping efforts to reduce transportation pollution. If South Carolina embraces the report, it would be the second state in the Southeast to take such an aggressive stance, Hagood said. North Carolina is the only other Southeastern state to do so, and 20 states are in various stages of developing climate action plans, he said. The report represents the work of more than 100 stakeholders, including representatives from the academic community, nonprofits, environmentalists and electric utilities. Given the compromise from that cross-section, John Clark, director of the state Energy Office, said he is hopeful that the state will take on the recommendations while there is momentum. Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 9 comment(s)
Posted by 512c on July 5, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If they allow the illegal construction of Coal plants (no matter how "clean") or the construction of polluting (when hurricanes hit, the oil will flow... all over our shores), they will be arrested with the rest of our corrupt politicians.
Posted by zoomru on July 5, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Ben Hagood,
Since you live on Sullivans and I live on Folly, WE both know that we have WIND. This should be a major iniciative for OUR state. Partnering with GE and www.superturbines.net would demonstrate OUR state's leadership in leading the NATION in coastal windfarms. Quite frankly, we need to TAP all forms of ENERGY....NOW!! You know as well as I that we can preserve and protect while we harness these energy sources. This inaction is NUTS.
Where do you stand on harnessing our energy in OUR landfills? DO you side with taking the EASY WAY out with tapping METHANE for a business lollipop or have you read about the NEW plasma machines that CLOSE down our landfills permanently. You do realize that Bees Ferry and the Incinerator should be closed. Are YOU a LEADER? Did you realize that cities could actually plasmafy their OWN trash instead of trucking it all the way to BEEs FERRY? We are at the crossraods here in Charleston for waste disposal SOLUTIONS; but politics are being played and the TAXPAYER and future generations stand to LOSE!! We need your VOICE.
NOW !!!
Posted by Badgersouth on July 5, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm old enough to remember how the tobacco industry fought tooth and nail against the medical and scientific community over the causal effect between cigarette smoking and cancer. It's no secret that Big Oil, Big Coal, right wing-nuts like Rush Limbaugh, Libertarians, and others have used the tobacco industry's tactics to cast doubt on the validity of what the scientific community has concluded about the causal effect between climate change and the release of greenhouse gases by mankind. Many Americans died because of Big Tobacco's greed and selfishness. This time around, the stakes are exponentially higher. For the sake of our children and future generations, we need to take action now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to mitigate against the climate change consequences that have already been set in motion.
Posted by RW on July 5, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It figures...another Republican has bought into the Global Warming Scam! Global Warning is a hoax!! The 70's Ice Age Scare was proclaimed by the same people! Republicans....you are supposed to protect us from socialism..not join them!
Posted by drp7773 on July 5, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Al Gore is a Republican????????????????????
Posted by zoomru on July 5, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Hagood,
I've had plenty of time to sharpen my machete this holiday weekend to help you chop your way though this jungle....
.."Hagood said the recommendations would need to be instituted through legislation, regional planning, new policies, executive orders, tax incentives and credits, community interest and local government ordinances."
Wholly Cow, I wonder how many years it will take US to get through???
Maybe do like Beaufort and have a contest.....
http://www.beaufortgazette.com
/local/story/484797.html
"Small Minds ...eh?
Well.....the only people looking like they have small minds are the ones putting this work out for CONTRACT. These people wouldn't know how to save a dollar if they tried.!!
What these fine people should do is have a CONTEST!! Yes Truth and Buzzzz.....a CONTEST. A lot of small minds working are greater than ONE BIG ONE !!! Have a contest for 10k CASH to the winner of the best land use PLAN for the county. Enterprising people with a laptop, Google Earth, and a VISION would do far better and SAVE the fine people of Beaufort tax money. Then have this newspaper publish for all to see and comment with a huge barbeque with the 55k left OVER...!! Talk about Beaufort PRIDE.!!! These officials are trying to cover their backside from any negative outcome. Will someone be a leader and look out for the TAXPAYER!! I bet some high schooler would come up with a better plan as a social studies homework project. He will probably have it done within a MONTH to boot.
or Andre and Henry.......
http://forums.goupstate.com/eve
/forums/a/tpc/f/8661098265
/m/3551034537
.."Andre and Henry square off to offer a similar contest to solve OUR state's Mass transit problems. All contestants have to be South Carolina residents and the transit system must encompass and solve both school bussing and public transportation with ONE system. It must be an ELEVATED MAG-LEV System to offer both citizens and tourists a wonderful view of OUR wonderful State. Google Earth, AutoCAD, MS Project, MS EXCEL and MS Power Point are documentum required for consideration. All entries must be received by Aug 30 with the 2 chosen entrants chosen for consideration by the legislature and future bond referendum vote. Winner will be determined by bond referendum vote and awarded by both Baur and McMaster at that time. Good Luck.
Thanks Bauer and McMaster for such a great IDEA !!....."
Posted by Badgersouth on July 5, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
John McCain on Global Warming
“Today I'd like to focus on just one of those challenges, and among environmental dangers it is surely the most serious of all. Whether we call it "climate change" or "global warming," in the end we're all left with the same set of facts. The facts of global warming demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington. Good stewardship, prudence, and simple commonsense demand that we to act meet the challenge, and act quickly”
The above is from the prepared remarks by John McCain on Climate Change Policy delivered at the Vestas Training Facility in Portland, Oregon on May 12, 2008.
A full transcript of McCain’s prepared remarks is posted on: http://www.johnmccain.com/
Posted by Pols101 on July 6, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These folks that think man-made global warming is a hoax are the same folks that think the Earth is flat.
Posted by zekemire on July 7, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Only problem with this committee is that you leave out the common sense of the general public in favor of so called experts who really have no idea of the cause and effect of solutions they may put forward! This happens in all cases such as this that put forth their ideas and agenda and do not consider the effect on Joe citizen! Prime example is the DOT projects and designs that an elementary school student could improve upon! South Carolina is a great state, and, I hope that some nut case ideas or projects will not impede our move to excellence in the future!! This states that all the stakeholders are represented. Utilities, academics, non profits and environmentalist are not all the stakeholders! They are the ones with an agenda of their own to promote! The most affected stakeholders are the average citizens whose lives will be affected for better or worse with no input into solutions, only a comment on those recommendations! Comments are not enough in all these cases, the citizens should be involved in the planning and setting of the agenda!! Period!