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S. 802
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senators Alexander, McConnell, Rankin, Campbell, Grooms, Verdin, O'Dell, Hutto and Rose
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11398ac09.docx
Introduced in the Senate on May 7, 2009
Last Amended on May 21, 2009
Adopted by the Senate on May 21, 2009
Summary: Energy
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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5/7/2009 Senate Introduced SJ-13
5/7/2009 Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
Resources SJ-13
5/13/2009 Senate Committee report: Favorable Agriculture and Natural
Resources SJ-12
5/14/2009 Scrivener's error corrected
5/21/2009 Senate Amended and adopted SJ-42
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
5/7/2009
5/13/2009
5/14/2009
5/21/2009
AS ADOPTED BY THE SENATE
May 21, 2009
S. 802
Introduced by Senators Alexander, McConnell, Rankin, Campbell, Grooms, Verdin, O'Dell and Hutto
S. Printed 5/21/09--S.
Read the first time May 7, 2009.
MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO FULLY EXAMINE AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EACH STATE'S CURRENT AND PROJECTED ENERGY PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES AND CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WHEN CONSIDERING ANY GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION INITIATIVES AND TO SAFEGUARD JOBS AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY WHEN CONSIDERING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION INITIATIVES.
Amend Title To Conform
Whereas, it appears inevitable that the United States Congress will act to adopt some form of tax, cap, or allowance on greenhouse gas emissions in the near future; and
Whereas, while the contours of a federal cap-and-trade program remain undefined, the impact of a program that applies tariffs to greenhouse emissions without the benefit of any baseline allowances would undoubtedly be costly; and
Whereas, unless properly planned and implemented, federal mandates restricting greenhouse gas emissions will carry a very heavy price tag - of which South Carolinians may be asked to shoulder an unfair burden; and
Whereas, the average monthly usage of electricity by South Carolina households combined with the current level of reliance on carbon emitting fuels, coal and natural gas, by the state's electric power generating companies would result in significant costs to be borne by South Carolinians; and
Whereas, our State currently relies on coal for the generation of 61% of its electricity. An additional 3l% of this state's electricity comes from nuclear generation facilities with the remainder coming from a mix of natural gas and hydro, and a very small amount from renewable resources; and
Whereas, after a thorough review of the electric generation and demographic data provided to the State Regulation of Public Utility Review Committee, it is evident that South Carolina cannot conserve its way out of this situation; and
Whereas, South Carolina does not possess a wealth of renewable energy sources such as the solar energy available to states in the Desert Southwest, the wind turbine generation available to states located in the Great Plains, or the hydro generation in the Pacific Northwest; and
Whereas, we must seek to encourage the growth of research and development in the use of renewable resources that are available and economically viable in South Carolina to provide for our future needs. For at least the immediate future, we must rely on the growth of the nuclear energy industry in this State to ensure that reliable, affordable electricity is available to all of our citizens; and
Whereas, South Carolina accounts for only 0.24% of total global greenhouse gas emissions; and
Whereas, any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must not eliminate American jobs and diminish the ability of American industry to compete in the global marketplace; and
Whereas, any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must not add to the already high costs of power and gasoline; and
Whereas, any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must reward, and not punish, early adopters of energy efficient technologies and practice; and
Whereas, any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must adopt an international component to prevent "emissions leakage" and ensure that emissions do not simply migrate to another state or nation; and
Whereas, the only manner to quantify these emissions is through a domestic and international greenhouse gas emissions registry that is uniform, transparent, and verifiable; and
Whereas, any system to regulate greenhouse gases must ensure that the adopted regime does not result in the off-shoring of international trade sensitive industries; and
Whereas, South Carolina has lost over 102,000 manufacturing jobs since 1998; and
Whereas, any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must ensure the availability of sufficient, affordable energy, including clean energy, before restricting emissions in a manner that could reduce the volume of energy available to consumers; and
Whereas, any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must provide credits or allowances to support operations, such as recycling and other practices, that reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
Whereas, any action taken should be structured to promote American jobs, save American citizens and industry from higher energy prices, reward early adopters of efficient practices and technologies, prevent "emissions leakage", and champion the global competitiveness of American industry. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the South Carolina Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate request the United States Congress to fully examine and take into account each state's current and projected energy production capabilities and current economic conditions when considering any greenhouse gas emission initiatives and to safeguard jobs and affordable energy when considering greenhouse gas emission initiatives.
This web page was last updated on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 2:45 P.M.