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Panel: SC carbon dioxide cuts need no mandate
8/8/2008 12:49 AM   0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend



By JIM DAVENPORT

Associated Press

COLUMBIA -- A new report says South Carolina can release less carbon dioxide than it did in 1990 by promoting voluntary efforts driven mostly by incentives and laws already on the books.

The report released Wednesday calls for the state to produce more energy with nuclear and alternative sources and find ways to save energy through conservation.

However, state Rep. Ben Hagood of Mount Pleasant said Thursday that Gov. Mark Sanford's Climate, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee never seriously considered mandates on industry or consumers to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Voluntary reductions driven by the marketplace and existing regulations have "much more practical results than an approach that by pulling a number out and saying 'thou shalt,"' said Hagood, the chairman of the committee.

The committee included lawmakers and representatives from businesses, utilities and environmental groups.

The report's "voluntary, aspirational, economy-wide goal" calls for a 5 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 without implementing any caps on the existing or future coal-fired power plants.

If the state did nothing else, greenhouse gas emissions would reach 102 million metric tons by 2020 with laws, regulations and incentives already in place.

The report's 51 recommendations should allow the state to cut that even more, to about 64 million metric tons. A metric ton is 2,204.62 pounds.

Among the recommendations:

-- Incentives for building energy efficiency and energy-related building code law changes could save 40 million metric tons.

-- Using more nuclear power sources could save more than 66 million metric tons.

-- Increasing energy efficiency efforts and using renewable energy sources like solar power could save 58 million metric tones.

-- Changing land use and development patterns could save 14 million metric tons.

-- Adopting higher mileage standards could save nearly 18 million metric tons.

Hagood says the public can give input on the recommendations through the end of the month.

Sanford set up the committee in 2007 as states took a closer look at climate change issues tied to state laws and energy policies. He hasn't reviewed the 583-page report yet.

In all, more than two dozen states have adopted or are working on similar greenhouse gas plans, according to the Center for Climate Strategy in Harrisburg, Penn., which provided research support to the committee.

"We suspect there are going to be some recommendations that we very much like and some that we may not even support," Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said.

He's already made that clear on some fronts. For instance, the recommendations rely in part on continued alternative energy incentives and tax breaks that Sanford vetoed this year. The Legislature overrode nearly all of his vetoes.

Sawyer said the governor liked the intent of the legislation, but "didn't like the way those particular pieces of legislation went about achieving their goal."

Hagood, who is giving up his House seat, says he'll devote time to getting legislation passed to implement recommendations.

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On the Net:

Climate, Energy, and Commerce Advisory Committee: http://www.scclimatechange.us/index.cfm





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