Conservation Legislative Alert 3/29/11 - Upstate. Forever

Conservation Legislative Alert 3/29/11: Conservation Bank Sunset Clause, Solar Energy and Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credits, and ABC Recycling

Conservation Legislative Alert
3/29/11

Welcome to Upstate Forever's weekly Legislative Alert. We are committed to keeping you updated on
the status of conservation- and planning-related legislation in the South Carolina General Assembly. We
also make it easy for you to take action with a few clicks of your mouse.

This week's legislative news:
SC Conservation Bank Sunset Clause. After a week's furlough, the full House Ways and Means
Committee is scheduled to consider H.3083 this afternoon. Upstate Committee members include
Chairman Rep. Dan Cooper (Anderson) and Reps. Rita Allison (Spartanburg), Michael Anthony (Union),
Dwight Loftis (Greenville), Mike Pitts (bill sponsor-Laurens), BR Skelton (Pickens), and Brian White
(Anderson). Please contact these legislators to urge their support for the bill. Background: Since
2004, the SC Conservation Bank has leveraged public and private revenues to protect over 140,000 acres
of forestlands and wetlands, nearly 10,000 acres of farms, and over 1,200 acres of urban parks and
historic sites - at an average price of only $534 per acre. This land is protected and easements help
landowners continue to use their land as originally intended. The original legislation establishing the SC
Conservation Bank included a "sunset clause," eliminating the program in 2013. H.3083 by Rep. Mike Pitts
(Laurens) would remove the sunset clause and make the Bank permanent.
Solar Tax Credits. H.3346 will be considered by the full House Ways and Means Committee this
afternoon. See above for links to Upstate Committee members. Background: H.3346 by Rep. Dwight
Loftis (Greenville) would establish a 35 percent state tax credit for the installation of solar energy
equipment for both residential and commercial purposes placed in service in taxable years after 2010.
This legislation not only promotes renewable energy production; it encourages solar installations and
creates new jobs in a state which currently produces only two percent of the energy we use.
Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Tax Credit. H.3059 by Rep. Jim Merrill (Berkeley) would provide a tax credit
($2,000 for any claims before 2011, and $5,000 for the fiscal year of 2011) for the purchase or lease of a
plug-in hybrid vehicle after 2007. It will also be considered by the full House Ways and Means Committee
this afternoon. See above for links to Upstate Committee members.
ABC Recycling. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave S.461 a favorable report, sending it to
the full Senate for consideration. Please thank Upstate Senators who voted in favor of the bill: Sens.
Larry Martin (Pickens), Shane Martin (Spartanburg), and Floyd Nicholson (Greenwood). Upstate Senators
reportedly voting against this bill were Sens. Lee Bright (Spartanburg) and Phillip Shoopman
(Greenville). If your Senator is not a member of this committee, now is the time to contact him to urge
support for the bill when it comes before the full Senate. Background: In 2009 the recycling industry
created 1,354 new jobs, $6.5 billion in economic impact, and over $300 million in capital investments in
South Carolina. The Alcohol Beverage Container (ABC) Recycling Bill (S.461) is a major 2011 priority for

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Conservation Legislative Alert 3/29/11: Conservation Bank Sunset Clause, Solar Energy and Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credits, and ABC Recycling

the conservation community. The bill by Sen. Ray Cleary (Georgetown) would require bars and
restaurants serving alcohol to start recycling their plastic, glass, aluminum containers and cardboard
boxes by 2013 (with an extra year allotted for some to implement glass recycling). The bill also calls for
these establishments to develop recycling plans guided by DHEC. Minimal funding would come from the
Governor's Task Force on Litter with money distributed equally to DHEC and the Department of Revenue
for implementation and enforcement. Permit applications or renewals would be given a 10% discount for
8 years if there is a recycling plan that does not include glass and a 25% discount for applications and
renewals that have a recycling plan including glass. This legislation is predicted to grow the recycling
sector by 12 percent annually and create over 36,000 jobs in five years. It costs local governments
significantly less to recycle our trash ($30 a ton) than to send it to a landfill ($50 a ton) or to incinerate it
($75 a ton). So recycling legislation offers our state a win-win-win by boosting our economy, helping the
environment, and lowering taxes.
Get involved! Here are two ways you can help move forward conservation priorities at the Statehouse
this year:

q Attend Statewide Conservation Lobby Day in May: Upstate
Forever staff members and volunteers will travel to
Columbia on May 3 as part of an educational and celebratory
day with hundreds of our counterparts from all over South
Carolina. Visit our events page or contact Nancy Fitzer for
more information.

q Be an In-District Legislative Volunteer: Our legislators rely
on their constituents to help stay informed. From the
comfort of your own home, stay in touch with your Senator
and House member as key votes come to the floor or before
their committees. We will help you get started -- contact
Nancy Fitzer to volunteer or learn more.

Upstate Forever is among three dozen conservation organizations statewide, representing more than
45,000 members, that have banded together to develop the 2011 Common Agenda of legislative
priorities for this session:

Clean and Green Means Jobs
Recycling, clean water and green power all mean jobs to South Carolinians. Our state's natural resources
can produce the jobs to keep our families employed here.

q Jobs in Clean Water
r Ban on phosphorus detergents, which damage water quality
r "Three strikes" bill to audit chronic sewage polluters

q Jobs in Green Energy
r Incentives to spur private sector investment

q Conservation Bank: Investing in our Future
r Remove provision ending SC Conservation Bank in 2012 and "death clause" that strips
program of its entire budget

q Let's Not Waste an Opportunity
r $3 solid waste tipping fee increase to fund recycling programs
r Requirement for bars and restaurants to recycle

q Enriching our Economy by Supporting our State Agencies

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Conservation Legislative Alert 3/29/11: Conservation Bank Sunset Clause, Solar Energy and Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credits, and ABC Recycling

r Restore funding to core natural resource agencies to enable our state to manage our land
and water assets for both public recreation and private sector growth.

More great resources for conservationists:
Conservation Voters of South Carolina
SC Coastal Conservation League
For a directory of Upstate legislators, click here.
For SC House and Senate information, click here.
Don't know which district you are in? Click here.

Promoting sensible growth and the protection of special places in the Upstate
www.upstateforever.org

If you are not already a member of Upstate Forever, PLEASE JOIN TODAY!

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