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TO AMEND SECTION 48-52-620, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ENERGY CONSERVATION PLANS FOR STATE AGENCIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION REDUCTION GOALS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FROM ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR AN AGENCY IMPLEMENTING ALL AVAILABLE, COST-EFFECTIVE ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES, AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "ENERGY CONSUMPTION"; TO AMEND SECTION 48-52-640, RELATING TO PURCHASE OF ENERGY CONSERVATION PRODUCTS BY A STATE AGENCY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE ENERGY OFFICE MAY CERTIFY FOR PROCUREMENT ONLY A PRODUCT THAT MEETS OR EXCEEDS FEDERAL ENERGY STAR STANDARDS, AND TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF AN INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULB USED BY A STATE AGENCY WITH A COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULB WHEN THE INCANDESCENT BULB NEEDS REPLACING, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 48-52-620 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 48-52-620. (A) Each state agency and public school district shall submit for approval to the State Energy Office an energy conservation plan and energy conservation goals, including energy consumption goals with a goal to reduce energy consumption by at least one percent annually for five consecutive years beginning July 1, 2008. The plan also must have a goal of ultimately reducing energy consumption by twenty percent by July 1, 2020, relative to year 2000 levels. An agency shall implement all cost-effective energy-saving measures to pursue these goals. The State Energy Office shall provide agency assistance and information needed to help meet these goals.
(B) In order to monitor energy consumption, the State Energy Office must determine those state buildings which that require individual metering. Metering must be installed by the agency, the cost of which must be borne by the agency responsible for the utility bill for the building.
(C)(1) Each state agency and public school district annually shall submit periodic energy conservation reports in the manner and at such the times as required by the State Energy Office.
(2) An agency that does not attain the annual reduction goals required by this section shall include in its report a detailed justification that it implemented all available, cost-effective energy conservation methods.
(3) An agency that submits a report indicating it has implemented all available, cost-effective energy-saving measures is exempt from these reporting requirements for a year in which a subsequent report would indicate no status change. The agency must notify the State Energy Office that the agency is exempt under this item.
(D) Each public school district and state agency shall submit to the State Energy Office and each state agency shall include in its annual report to the State Budget and Control Board:
(1) activities undertaken implementing its energy conservation plan; and
(2) progress made in achieving its energy conservation goals.
(E) The State Energy Office shall compile the reports submitted pursuant to subsection (C) to be submitted annually, no later than December thirty-first, to the General Assembly. The State Energy Office shall provide suggested formats for plans and goals that must be submitted pursuant to subsection (A), reporting forms for reports required by subsection (C), and all technical assistance necessary for state agencies and school districts to satisfy the requirements of these subsections.
(F) For purposes of this article:
(1) 'Energy consumption' includes, but is not limited to, electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and propane.
(2) 'State agency' means a state government agency subject to the procurement code."
SECTION 2. Section 48-52-640 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 48-52-640. (A) A vendor of energy conservation products making an energy conservation claim and attempting to sell to state government shall submit the product to the State Energy Office for evaluation and certification.
(B) Only energy conservation products certified by the State Energy Office may be purchased by a state agency subject to the state procurement code. The State Energy Office may certify only a product that meets or exceeds the Federal Energy Star standards designed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Energy.
(C) All A state agencies agency shall submit a disclaimer statement to the State Energy Office with their its annual report stating that they it did not purchase any an energy conservation products product that had not been certified by the State Energy Office.
(D) Each state agency head shall require the agency's procurement officer or other person authorized to purchase supplies for the agency to replace an incandescent light bulb used by the agency with a compact fluorescent bulb when the incandescent bulb needs to be replaced. A state agency may not purchase an incandescent bulb for use by the agency unless the agency head provides a written statement compelling what circumstances require use of an incandescent bulb."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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