Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4379 Primary Sponsor:Keyserling Committee Number:30 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 1992 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Ways and Means Companion Bill Number:1273 Computer Document Number:BR1/2049.AC Introduced Date:Feb 06, 1992 Date of Last Amendment:Apr 29, 1992 Last History Body:House Last History Date:May 05, 1992 Last History Type:Recommitted to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Keyserling Barber Hendricks Rogers Whipper McLeod McElveen McTeer Wilkes Houck J. Bailey Foster Holt L. Elliott D. Martin Inabinett Baxley McKay Kempe Waites Cromer Manly Bennett McAbee Boan Jennings Hodges Glover Farr Cato D. Williams Harvin Cooper Fulmer Sharpe Corbett Meacham A. Young Tucker Wright Wells Rudnick M. Martin Hallman Mattos Neilson M.O. Alexander Sheheen Byrd Harrelson Shirley J. Brown Keegan Anderson Waldrop Scott Gonzales D. Elliott Harrison Shissias Corning Quinn Cork Altman Snow Sturkie Hyatt Phillips Cobb-Hunter Kinon McGinnis Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ ---
4379 House May 05, 1992 Recommitted to Committee 30
4379 House Apr 30, 1992 Debate interrupted by
adjournment
4379 House Apr 29, 1992 Debate interrupted by
adjournment
4379 House Apr 29, 1992 Amended
4379 House Apr 28, 1992 Debate interrupted by
adjournment
4379 House Apr 01, 1992 Committee Report: majority 30
favorable, with amendment,
minority unfavorable
4379 House Feb 06, 1992 Introduced, read first time, 30
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
AMENDED--NOT PRINTED IN THE HOUSE
BR1\2444.AC
BR1\2661.AC
April 29, 1992
H. 4379
Introduced by REPS. Keyserling, Barber, Hendricks, Rogers, Whipper, McLeod, McElveen, McTeer, Wilkes, Houck, J. Bailey, Foster, Holt, L. Elliott, D. Martin, Inabinett, Baxley, McKay, Kempe, Waites, Cromer, Manly, Bennett, McAbee, Boan, Jennings, Hodges, Glover, Farr, Cato, D. Williams, Harvin, Cooper, Fulmer, Sharpe, Corbett, Meacham, A. Young, Tucker, Wright, Wells, Rudnick, M. Martin, Hallman, Mattos, Neilson, M.O. Alexander, Sheheen, Byrd, Harrelson, Shirley, J. Brown, Keegan, Anderson, Waldrop, Scott, Gonzales, D. Elliott, Harrison, Shissias, Corning, Quinn, Cork, Altman, Snow, Sturkie, Hyatt, Phillips, Cobb-Hunter, Kinon and McGinnis
S. Printed 4/1/92--H.
Read the first time February 6, 1992.
TO ENACT THE SOUTH CAROLINA ENERGY CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY ACT OF 1992; TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 52 TO TITLE 48 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A STATE ENERGY POLICY, TO ADOPT THE PLAN FOR THE STATE ENERGY POLICY, TO ESTABLISH THE STATE ENERGY OFFICE WITHIN THE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, TO PROVIDE FOR THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THIS OFFICE, TO ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY COUNCIL, TO REQUIRE THE STATE ENERGY OFFICE TO DEVELOP AND OVERSEE COMPLIANCE WITH ENERGY CODE STANDARDS FOR STATE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, TO REQUIRE STATE AGENCIES AND PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUBMIT TO THE ENERGY OFFICE FOR APPROVAL ENERGY CONSERVATION PLANS AND GOALS AND TO REQUIRE REPORTING, TO PROVIDE FOR FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY PRODUCTS BY STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING AN EXCEPTION TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA PROCUREMENT CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THE STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM, THE ENERGY EXTENSION SERVICE, AND THE INSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE ENERGY OFFICE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONNEL AND FUNDING FOR THE STATE ENERGY OFFICE MUST BE DERIVED FROM EXISTING STATE GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL SLOTS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE STATE; BY ADDING SECTION 40-29-85 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE ENERGY OFFICE TO PROVIDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS LABELS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA MANUFACTURED HOUSING BOARD TO BE PLACED ON MANUFACTURED HOMES; BY AMENDING SECTION 6-10-30, RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY BUILDINGS CODES, SO AS TO REVISE THE MINIMUM THERMAL RESISTANCE RATINGS IN ONE AND TWO FAMILY DWELLINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-36-2110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CALCULATION OF SALES TAX ON MOBILE HOMES, SO AS TO INCREASE FROM ONE TO TWO THE PERCENTAGE FOR CALCULATING THE SALES TAX ON THE COST OF A MANUFACTURED HOME IN EXCESS OF SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS AND TO EXEMPT A HOME THAT MEETS CERTAIN ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS FROM THIS TAX; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-29-240, RELATING TO VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE UNIFORM STANDARDS CODE FOR MANUFACTURED HOUSING, SO AS TO INCLUDE A VIOLATION FOR FAILURE TO PROPERLY DISPLAY THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY LABEL REQUIRED BY SECTION 40-29-85; BY ADDING SECTION 58-27-240 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO ADOPT PROCEDURES AND PROVIDE INCENTIVES THAT ENCOURAGE ELECTRICAL AND GAS UTILITIES TO INVEST IN COST-EFFECTIVE ENERGY EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES AND ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-27-250 SO AS TO REQUIRE ANNUAL REPORTING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON DEMAND-SIDE ACTIVITIES AND PURCHASING POWER OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES; BY ADDING SECTION 58-27-260 SO AS TO REQUIRE ELECTRICAL UTILITIES AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY TO PREPARE INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-27-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, SO AS TO DEFINE "DEMAND-SIDE ACTIVITIES"; BY ADDING SECTIONS 57-1-130 AND 57-1-140 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO EXPEND ANNUALLY ONE PERCENT OF ITS TOTAL STATE APPROPRIATION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF INCLUDING HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANES, PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS, AND BICYCLE PATHS IN NEW HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 1-11-310, RELATING TO THE STATE MOTOR VEHICLE FLEET, SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TYPES OF VEHICLES THAT MAY BE PURCHASED FOR THIS FLEET AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXEMPTION FOR FUEL ETHANOL BLENDS AND TO ADD AN EXEMPTION FOR CLEAN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUELS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-96-40, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "MOTOR OIL" AND "SIMILAR LUBRICANTS"; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-96-160, RELATING TO USED OIL REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A TAX CREDIT TO A RETAILER OF MOTOR OIL WHO MAINTAINS AN OIL COLLECTION CENTER OF EIGHT CENTS A GALLON FOR OIL RETURNED TO A LICENSED USED OIL TRANSPORTER OR USED OIL RECYCLING FACILITY, TO EXEMPT A USED OIL COLLECTION CENTER FROM CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WHEN IT RECEIVES LESS THAN FIVE GALLONS OF OIL AT A TIME, TO REMOVE THE EIGHT-CENT TAX ON MOTOR OIL FROM WHOLESALE SALES AND PLACE ON RETAIL SALES, AND TO PROVIDE UP TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS CREDIT TO RETAILERS WHO MAINTAIN A USED OIL COLLECTION CENTER FOR EQUIPMENT USED IN THE OIL COLLECTION PROCESS; BY AMENDING SECTION 48-1-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE POLLUTION CONTROL ACT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "SOURCE" TO INCLUDE MOTOR VEHICLES AND TO DEFINE "MOTOR VEHICLE"; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-25-30, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CREATION OF A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A REFERENDUM IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE IS IMPOSED; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-25-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE GOVERNING BOARD MUST BE APPORTIONED ACCORDING TO POPULATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-25-50, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE AUTHORITY TO COORDINATE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES BEING PROVIDED BY ENTITIES UTILIZING STATE FUNDS OR STATE-ADMINISTERED FUNDS; BY AMENDING SECTION 58-25-60, RELATING TO SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THE AUTHORITY, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FUNDING; TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUELS STUDY COMMITTEE AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES; TO DIRECT THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF INCREASED PUBLIC RAIL TRANSPORTATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA; AND TO DIRECT THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLE MANAGEMENT OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD TO DETERMINE THE ABILITY TO USE ALTERNATIVE FUELS FOR THE STATE VEHICLE FLEET AND TO BEGIN USING THESE FUELS BY JUNE 1, 1993.
Amend Title To Conform
Whereas, energy, like nourishment, health care, and education, is an absolute necessity for individuals, as well as for businesses and government; and
Whereas, energy costs have a profound impact on the economic well-being of individuals, businesses, and government; and
Whereas, environmental effects of energy use patterns have a major impact on the quality of our natural resources, the quality of human life, and the ability of the State to attract and retain both industrial and service-related jobs; and
Whereas, energy costs play a vital role in the state's ability to attract industry and retirees; and
Whereas, energy expenditures represent a substantial monetary outflow from South Carolina's economy in that South Carolina produces no coal, oil, or natural gas; and
Whereas, increasingly high usage of imported oil results in economic vulnerability; and
Whereas, current energy use patterns are the result of many infrastructure decisions made in the past, and long-term future energy use patterns will be affected by current policy decisions; and
Whereas, to properly address these critical energy issues and to provide a framework within which to work, it is in the state's best interest to adopt a comprehensive state energy plan. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the South Carolina Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 1992.
SECTION 1. Title 48 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 48-52-10. This chapter may be cited as the `South Carolina Energy Efficiency Act'.
Section 48-52-210. (A) It is the policy of this State to have a comprehensive state energy plan that maximizes environmental quality and energy conservation and efficiency, and minimizes the cost of energy throughout the State. To implement this policy there is adopted the Plan for State Energy Policy.
(B) The purpose of the plan is to:
(1) ensure access to energy supplies at the lowest practical environmental and economic cost;
(2) ensure long-term access to adequate, reliable energy supplies;
(3) ensure that demand-side options are pursued wherever economically and environmentally practical;
(4) encourage the development and use of indigenous, renewable energy resources;
(5) ensure that basic energy needs of all citizens, including low income citizens, are met;
(6) ensure that energy vulnerability to international events is minimized;
(7) ensure that energy-related decisions promote the economic and environmental well-being of the State and maximize the ability of South Carolina to attract retirees, tourists, and industrial and service-related jobs;
(8) ensure that short-term energy decisions do not conflict with long-range energy needs;
(9) ensure that internal governmental energy use patterns are consistent with the state's long-range interests;
(10) ensure that state government is organized appropriately to handle energy matters in the best public interest;
(11) ensure that governmental energy-related tax, expenditure, and regulatory policies are appropriate, and, wherever possible, maximize the long-range benefits of competition.
Section 48-52-410. There is established the State Energy Office within the Division of General Services of the State Budget and Control Board which shall serve as the principal energy planning entity for the State. Its primary purpose is to develop and implement a well-balanced energy strategy and to increase the efficiency of use of all energy sources throughout South Carolina through the implementation of the Plan for State Energy Policy. The State Energy Office must not function as a regulatory body.
Section 48-52-420. In carrying out the purposes of the Plan for State Energy Policy, the State Energy Office shall:
(1) provide, in cooperation and conjunction with the Governor's Office, informational and technical assistance programs to assist with residential, commercial, governmental, industrial, and transportation conservation and efficiency and to encourage the use of renewable indigenous energy resources;
(2) promote, in conjunction with the South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center and the Governor's Office, continued and expanded energy research and development programs geared toward the energy needs of the State;
(3) evaluate and certify energy conservation products with the South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center;
(4) in cooperation with the Governor's Office and other appropriate entities, examine and consider the desirability and feasibility of mechanisms for tax incentives, low-interest loans, and other financing means for cost-effective energy consideration and efficiency and use of renewable and indigenous energy resources, and advocate their implementation when deemed appropriate;
(5) work with the Public Service Commission and other groups to promote appropriate financial incentives for electric and gas utilities to maximize the use of cost-effective demand-side options in meeting future energy needs;
(6) promote the adoption and use of energy efficient building codes and certification procedures for builders, heating and cooling specialists, and building inspectors;
(7) promote energy efficiency in manufactured housing;
(8) promote the use of less-polluting transportation fuels, public transportation and other transportation alternatives, higher mileage and less-polluting vehicles, and work with state and local entities through policy development, planning, and advocacy to encourage reduction in the need for vehicle travel;
(9) ensure that state government agencies establish comprehensive energy efficiency plans and become models for energy efficiency in South Carolina, and assist the Department of Education in achieving energy efficiency in public schools;
(10) collect currently published and publicly available energy data and provide energy information clearinghouse functions in conjunction with the Governor's Office, and conduct long-range energy planning;
(11) assist the Governor's Office and the General Assembly in assessing the public economic and environmental interest on issues related to energy production, transportation, and use and provide information on the public interest in appropriate forums.
Section 48-52-430. The State Energy Office shall annually submit to the Governor and Joint Legislative Committee on Energy a state energy action plan that includes, but is not limited to:
(a) activities by the State Energy Office to carry out the Plan for State Energy Policy;
(b) recommendations for long-term quantitative and qualitative energy goals for the residential, commercial industrial, transportation, governmental and utility sectors, and measures of progress for these goals;
(c) identification of obstacles to efficiency for which legislative, regulatory, or other governmental remedies are appropriate.
Section 48-52-440. There is established the Energy Advisory Committee, whose members are appointed by the State Budget and Control Board, except as provided in item (14) of this section. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the State Budget and Control Board except that those appointed pursuant to item (14) shall serve for a term coterminous with that of their appointing authority. The committee is composed as follows:
(1) two representatives of investor-owned electricity companies;
(2) two representatives of electric cooperatives;
(3) one representative of the South Carolina Public Service Authority who shall serve ex officio;
(4) one representative of municipally-owned electric utilities;
(5) one representative of publicly-owned natural gas companies;
(6) one representative of investor-owned gas companies;
(7) one representative of oil suppliers or dealers;
(8) one representative of propane suppliers or dealers;
(9) one representative of nonprofit public transportation providers;
(10) one representative of industrial consumers;
(11) one representative of commercial consumers;
(12) two representatives of individual consumers; one must be the Consumer Advocate or the Consumer Advocate's designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(13) two representatives of environmental groups; and
(14) three at-large members, one each appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate.
The Budget and Control Board shall elect one of the committee members to serve as chairman. The members of the Energy Advisory Committee are not eligible for reimbursement for travel, lodging, meals, or per diem. The committee shall adopt rules concerning meeting attendance by its members. The functions of the Energy Advisory Committee are advisory to the State Energy Office. The committee shall meet once each quarter to receive information on the activities of the State Energy Office and the formulation and implementation of the state energy action plan. It may comment and advise on the activities and the plan as considered appropriate by members of the committee. The State Energy Office may seek advice and guidance from the committee as considered appropriate by the director of the office.
Section 48-52-450. The State Energy Office shall recommend to the State Budget and Control Board the consolidation of other offices or programs in state government related to energy, energy efficiency, and energy reliability, excluding the South Carolina Public Service Authority and the South Carolina Public Service Commission.
Section 48-52-610. The State Energy Office shall develop energy code standards for state-owned and leased buildings, including public school buildings.
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.
(B) In order to monitor energy consumption, the State Energy Office must determine those state buildings which 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) Each state agency and public school district shall submit periodic energy conservation reports in the manner and at such times as required by the State Energy Office.
(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 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.
(F) 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.
Section 48-52-630. An agency's budget must not
be reduced by the amount of money saved through energy conservation measures. Appropriate financial incentives to encourage the reinvestment of energy costs savings into additional energy conservation areas must be provided. Energy savings must be divided among the agency, the general fund, and debt retirement of capital expenditures on energy efficiency. Agencies must be encouraged to reinvest their savings into energy conservation areas, where practical.
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.
(C) All state agencies shall submit a disclaimer statement to the energy office with their annual report stating that they did not purchase any energy conservation products that had not been certified by the State Energy Office.
Section 48-52-650. The State Energy Office shall establish a mechanism for a revolving loan fund for state agencies to use for energy conservation measures. Repayment may be from the savings in the agency's utility budget.
Section 48-52-660. (A) A state agency may enter into lease purchase agreements for a duration of more than one year with vendors of energy efficiency products and utility companies. No funds disclaimer clause as provided for in Section 11-35-2030 is required in these contracts. Repayment is allowed from savings on the agency utility budget.
(B) Procurements under the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code for energy-using goods and facilities must be procured through competitive sealed proposals pursuant to Section 11-35-1530 with life cycle cost criteria stated as an evaluation factor that must be addressed in a proposal.
Section 48-52-670. (A) A state agency may enter into contracts and lease purchase agreements for a duration of more than one year with vendors of energy efficient products, guaranteed savings programs, and shared savings. No funds disclaimer cause as provided for in Section 11-35-2030 is required in these contracts. Repayment may be made from savings on the agency utility budget.
(B) For purposes of this section, `guaranteed energy savings contract' means a contract for the evaluation and recommendation of energy conservation measures and for implementation of one or more such measures. The contract must provide that all payments, except obligations on termination of the contract before its expiration, must be made over time and the savings are guaranteed to the extent necessary to make payments for the systems.
(C) A guaranteed energy savings contract must be awarded pursuant to Section 11-35-1530 if it includes a written guarantee that savings will meet or exceed the cost of energy conservation measures.
(D) A governmental body, including all local political subdivisions such as counties, municipalities, public school districts, or public service or special purpose districts. may enter into an installment payment contract or lease purchase agreement for the purchase and installation of energy conservation measures.
Section 48-52-680. (A) The State Energy Office shall assist the Materials Management Office as established in Section 11-35-810 and all governmental bodies defined in and subject to the Consolidated Procurement Code, by identifying goods which are `energy efficient' or for which the State can achieve long-term savings through consideration of life cycle costs. The State Energy Office must compile a list of these goods. Before issuing any solicitation for these goods, the procuring agency shall notify the State Energy Office which shall assist in drafting or reviewing specifications for the goods being procured and which shall approve the specifications before issuing the solicitation. Upon request of a governmental body the State Energy Office shall provide assistance in evaluating bids or offers received in response to the solicitation to ensure that procurements are made in accordance with the purposes and policies of this article.
(B) The State Energy Office shall assist the Office of the State Engineer and all governmental bodies defined in and subject to the Consolidated Procurement Code by drafting energy conservation standards to be applied in the design and construction of buildings that are owned or lease/purchased by these governmental bodies. Before any construction contracts are bid under Section 11-35-3020, the State Engineer's Office or the governmental body soliciting the bids shall review the plans and specifications to ensure that they are in compliance with the standards drafted by the State Energy Office. The State Energy Office shall provide assistance in reviewing these plans and specifications upon the request of the State Engineer's Office or the affected governmental body.
(C) The State Energy Office shall provide the Office of Property Management of the Budget and Control Board, Division of General Services, information to be used in evaluating energy costs for buildings or portions of buildings proposed to be leased by governmental bodies that are defined in and subject to the Consolidated Procurement Code. The information provided must be considered with the other criteria provided by law by a governmental body before entering into a real property lease.
Section 48-52-690. (A) Funding for the State Energy Office must be derived from existing financial resources available to the State and may be derived from such oil overcharge funds as are available and appropriate. Personnel for the State Energy Office must be derived from the consolidation of existing state government personnel slots, to the extent possible. The Director of the State Energy Office must be appointed by the State Budget and Control Board upon the recommendation of the executive director. (B) The State Energy Office shall submit for approval all proposed projects for funding with oil overcharge funds to the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy pursuant to Chapter 39, Title 11 and to the Joint Appropriations Review Committee pursuant to Section 2-65-20."
SECTION 2. The establishment of the State Energy Office within the State Budget and Control Board, as provided for in this part, must be evaluated at such time as restructuring or reorganizing of state government takes place so as to identify and provide for the proper placement of the office upon restructuring or reorganizing.
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 40-29-85. (A) The State Energy Office shall design, produce, and provide to the South Carolina Manufactured Housing Board labels to be distributed to manufactured home manufacturers who shall prominently place a label on each manufactured home that has not been previously occupied as a dwelling that is to be placed for sale in South Carolina.
(B) The label must state clearly whether the manufactured home meets these energy efficiency standards:
(1) storm or double pane glass windows;
(2) insulated or storm doors;
(3) an actual installed insulation value of R-11 for walls;
(4) an actual installed insulation value of R-19 for floors;
(5) an actual installed insulation value of R-30 for ceilings."
SECTION 2. Section 6-10-30(d) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, in one and two family dwellings double pane or storm windows must be used for window glass and in the case of ceilings, exterior walls, and floors with crawl space, and heating and air conditioning duct work, in one and two-family dwellings, the determination of the minimum thermal resistance ratings (R-value) shall must be:
(1) Ceilings shall be R-19 R-30 for ceilings, except for ceiling/roof combinations, which must be R-19;
(2) Exterior walls shall be R-11 R-13 for exterior walls;
(3) Floors with crawl space shall be R-11 R-19 for floors with crawl space;
(4) R-6, or the installed equivalent, for heating and air conditioning duct work not located in conditioned space.
Nothing in this subsection shall may be construed to inhibit utilization of higher minimum thermal ratings.
To facilitate the affordability of purchases of housing, minimum thermal resistance ratings of R-19 for ceilings and R-11 for floors may be used provided the builder discloses the insulation levels to the buyer. The disclosure must be on a form provided by the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission and a copy must be submitted to the commission which must keep it for thirteen years."
SECTION 3. Section 12-36-2110(B) of the 1976 Code, as added by Part II, Section 74A, Act 612 of 1990, is amended to read:
"(B) For the sale of a mobile manufactured
home, as defined in Section 31-17-20 40-29-20, the tax is calculated as follows:
(1) subtract trade-in allowance from the sales price;
(2) multiply the result from (1) by sixty-five percent;
(3) if the result from (2) is no greater than six thousand dollars, multiply by five percent. This is for the amount of the tax due.;
(4) if the result from (2) is greater than six thousand dollars, the tax due is three hundred dollars plus one two percent of the amount greater than six thousand dollars.
However, a manufactured home that has not been previously occupied as a dwelling is exempt from any tax that may be due above three hundred dollars as a result of the calculation in subitem (4) if it meets these energy efficiency standards: storm or double pane glass windows, insulated or storm doors, an actual installed insulation value of R-11 for walls and R-19 for floors, and R-30 for ceilings. The dealer selling the manufactured home must maintain records, on forms provided by the State Energy Office, on each manufactured home sold which contains the above calculations and verifying whether or not the manufactured home met the energy efficiency standards above. These records must be maintained for three years and must be made available for inspection upon request of the Department of Consumer Affairs or the State Energy Office."
SECTION 4. Section 40-29-240(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 128 of 1989, is amended by adding at the end:
"(7) fail to properly and prominently display the energy efficiency label required by Section 40-29-85."
SECTION 1. Title 58 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 58-37-10. As used in this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(1) `Demand-side activity' means a program conducted or proposed by a producer, supplier, or distributor of energy for the reduction or more efficient use of energy requirements of the producer's, supplier's, or distributor's customers, including, but not limited to, conservation and energy efficiency, load management, cogeneration, and renewable energy technologies.
(2) `Integrated resource plan' means a plan which contains the demand and energy forecast for at least a fifteen-year period, contains the supplier's or producer's program for meeting the requirements shown in its forecast in an economic and reliable manner, including both demand-side and supply-side options, with a brief description and summary cost-benefit analysis, if available, of each option which was considered, including those not selected, sets forth the supplier's or producer's assumptions and conclusions with respect to the effect of the plan on the cost and reliability of energy service, and describes the external environmental and economic consequences of the plan to the extent practicable. For electrical utilities and public utilities providing gas services subject to the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Public Service Commission, this definition must be interpreted in a manner consistent with the integrated resource planning process adopted by the commission. For electric cooperatives subject to the regulations of the Rural Electrification Administration, this definition must be interpreted in a manner consistent with any integrated resource planning process prescribed by Rural Electrification Administration regulations.
Section 58-37-20. The South Carolina Public Service Commission must adopt procedures that encourage electrical utilities and public utilities providing gas services subject to the jurisdiction of the commission to invest in cost-effective energy efficient technologies and energy conservation programs. These procedures must provide incentives and cost recovery for energy suppliers and distributors who invest in energy supply and end-use technologies that are cost-effective, environmentally acceptable, and/or reduce energy needs. These procedures must allow energy suppliers and distributors to recover costs and obtain a reasonable rate of return on their investment in qualified demand-side management programs sufficient to make these programs at least as financially attractive as construction of new generating facilities. The Public Service Commission shall establish rates and charges that ensure that the net income of an electrical or gas utility regulated by the commission after implementation of a specific cost-effective energy conservation measure is at least as high as the net income would have been if the energy conservation measure had not been implemented. For purposes of this section only, the term `demand side activity' means a program conducted by an electrical utility or public utility providing gas services for the reduction or more efficient use of energy requirements of the utility or its customers, including, but not limited to, utility transmission and distribution system efficiency, customer conservation and efficiency, load management, cogeneration, and renewable energy technologies.
Section 58-37-30. (A) The South Carolina Public Service Commission must report annually to the General Assembly on available data regarding the past, on-going, and projected status of demand-side activities and purchase of power from qualifying facilities, as defined in the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, by electrical utilities and public utilities providing gas services subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission.
(B) Electric cooperatives providing resale or retail services, municipally-owned electric utilities, and the South Carolina Public Service Authority shall report annually to the State Energy Office on available data regarding the past, on-going, and projected status of demand-side activities and purchase of power from qualifying facilities. For electric cooperatives, submission to the State Energy Office of a report on demand side activities in a format complying with then current Rural Electrification Administration regulations constitutes compliance with this subsection. An electric cooperative providing resale services may submit a report in conjunction with and on behalf of any electric cooperative which purchases electric power and energy from it. The State Energy Office must compile and submit this information annually to the General Assembly.
(C) The State Energy Office may provide forms for the reports required by this section to the Public Service Commission and to electric cooperatives, municipally-owned electric utilities, and the South Carolina Public Service Authority. The office shall strive to minimize differing formats for reports, taking into account the reporting requirements of other state and federal agencies. For electrical utilities and public utilities providing gas services subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, the reporting form must be in a format acceptable to the commission.
Section 58-37-40. (A) Electrical utilities, public utilities providing gas services, and the South Carolina Public Service Authority must prepare integrated resource plans. The South Carolina Public Service Authority and electrical and gas utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission must submit their plans to the State Energy Office. The plan submitted by the South Carolina Public Service Authority must be developed in consultation with electric cooperatives and municipally-owned electric utilities purchasing power and energy from the authority and must include the effect of demand-side management activities of electric cooperatives and municipally-owned electric utilities which directly purchase power and energy from the authority or sell power and energy which the authority generates. All plans must be submitted every three years and must be updated on an annual basis. The first integrated resource plan of the South Carolina Public Service Authority must be submitted no later than June 30, 1993. An integrated resource plan may be patterned after the integrated resource planning process developed by the Public Service Commission. For electrical utilities and public utilities providing gas services subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, submission of their plans as required by the commission constitutes compliance with this section. Nothing in this subsection may be construed as requiring interstate natural gas companies whose rates and services are regulated only by the federal government to prepare and submit an integrated resource plan.
(B) Electric cooperatives and municipally-owned electric utilities must submit integrated resource plans to the State Energy Office wherever they are required by federal law to prepare these plans or if they plan to acquire, by purchase or construction, ownership of additional generating capacity greater than twelve megawatts per unit. An integrated resource plan must be submitted to the State Energy Office by an electric cooperative or municipally-owned electric utility twelve months before the acquisition, by purchase or construction, of additional generating capacity in excess of twelve megawatts per unit. For an electric cooperative, submission to the State Energy Office of its plan in a format complying with the then current Rural Electrification Administration regulations constitutes compliance with this section.
(C) The State Energy Office, to the extent practicable, shall evaluate and comment on external environmental and economic consequences of each integrated resource plan submitted and on the environmental and economic consequences for suppliers and distributors.
(D) The State Energy Office shall coordinate the preparation of an integrated resource plan for the State and shall coordinate with regional groups including the Southern States Energy Board.
(E) The State Energy office must not exercise any regulatory authority with regard to the requirements set forth in this chapter.
(F) Not later than six months after the effective date of this act, the State Energy Office must submit recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly for expanding the integrated resource planning requirements of this chapter to all energy producers, suppliers, and distributors in this State not otherwise addressed by this chapter."
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 57-1-130. The South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation annually shall expend not more than three million dollars of the total state source funds available to the department on the implementation of public transportation. For purposes of this section, `public transportation' means every conveyance of human passengers which is provided to the general public or selected groups on a regular and continuing basis by bus, van, or other ground vehicles or by rail, subway, or monorail."
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 57-1-140. Before building new or expanding existing primary highways, roads, and streets the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation shall consider and make a written determination whether it is financially and physically possible to include:
(1) high occupancy vehicle lanes, when the construction or expansion is in a metropolitan area;
(2) pedestrian walkways or sidewalks; and
(3) bicycle lanes or paths.
A copy of this determination must be submitted to the State Energy Office."
SECTION 3. Section 1-11-310 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 1-11-310. (A) The State Budget and Control Board shall purchase, acquire, transfer, replace, and dispose of all motor vehicles on the basis of maximum cost-effectiveness and lowest anticipated total life cycle costs.
(B) The standard state fleet sedan or station wagon must be no larger than a compact model and the special state fleet sedan or station wagon must be no larger than an intermediate model. The director of the Division of Motor Vehicle Management shall determine the types of vehicles which fit into these classes. Only these classes of sedans and station wagons may be purchased by the State for non law enforcement use.
(C) The State shall purchase police sedans only for the use of law enforcement officers, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. Purchase of a vehicle under this subsection must be concurred in by the director of the Division of Motor Vehicle Management and must be in accordance with regulations promulgated or procedures adopted under Sections 1-11-220 through 1-11-340 which must take into consideration the agency's mission, the intended use of the vehicle, and the officer's duties. Law enforcement agency vehicles used by employees whose job functions do not meet the Internal Revenue Service definition of `Law Enforcement Officer' must be standard or special state fleet sedans.
(D) All state motor vehicles shall must be titled to the State. All such titles shall and must be received by and remain in the possession of the Division of Motor Vehicle Management pending sale or disposal of the vehicle.
(E) Titles to school buses and service vehicles operated by the State Department of Education and vehicles operated by the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation shall must be retained by those agencies.
(F) Exceptions to requirements in subsections (B) and (C) must be approved by the Budget and Control Board on an individual basis."
SECTION 4. Section 12-36-2120(15) of the 1976 Code, as added by Part II, Section 74A, Act 612 of 1990, is amended to read:
"(15) gasoline or other motor vehicle fuels taxed at the same rate as gasoline, fuel ethanol blends, as defined in Section 12-27-430(2), and fuels used in farm machinery, farm tractors, and commercial fishing vessels, and clean alternative transportation fuels as defined in regulation by the South Carolina Tax Commission as defined by the State Energy Office. Gasoline used in aircraft is not exempted by this item;".
SECTION 5. Section 44-96-40(27) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 63 of 1991, is amended to read:
"(27) `Motor oil' and `similar lubricants' means mean the fraction of crude oil or synthetic oil which is sold for the purposes of reducing friction in an industrial or mechanical device that is classified for use in the crankcase, transmission, gearbox, or differential of an internal combustion engine, including automobiles, buses, trucks, lawn mowers and other household power equipment, industrial machinery, and other mechanical devices that derive their power from internal combustion engines. The terms include re-refined oil but do not include heavy greases and specialty industrial or machine oils, such as spindle oils, cutting oils, steam cylinder oils, industrial oils, electrical insulating oils, or solvents which are not sold at retail in this State."
SECTION 6. Section 44-96-160(D) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 63 of 1991, is amended by adding at the end:
"A retail dealer of motor oil who maintains a separate tank for a voluntary used oil collection center as approved by the department under this section is eligible for a payment from the South Carolina Tax Commission from fees collected pursuant to subsection (V) of five cents for every gallon of motor oil that is returned properly on a voluntary basis to a registered used oil transporter or a permitted used oil recycling facility upon proper verification."
SECTION 7. The first paragraph of Section 44-96-160(V)(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 63 of 1991, is amended to read:
"The Tax Commission shall remit fees collected pursuant to this section to the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund, less payments made pursuant to subsection (D). The fees must be reserved in a separate account designated as the Petroleum Fund. The Petroleum Fund shall must be under the administration of the Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling."
SECTION 8. Section 44-96-160(V)(2)(a)(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 63 of 1991, is amended to read:
"(2) the establishment and continued operation of collection centers which accept used oil; and , including a one-time rebate to retailers who maintain department approved used oil collection centers for equipment used in the used oil collection process, not to exceed five hundred dollars a location. The used oil collection center must maintain a separate tank for the collection of voluntarily returned used oil to be eligible for this rebate. This rebate must be distributed by the department upon approval of the collection center by the department and submittal of proof of purchase of the equipment."
SECTION 9. Section 44-96-160 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end:
"(Z) Beginning February 28, 1993, and no later than February twenty-eighth each year thereafter, the Office of Solid Waste and Recycling shall submit to the Governor and to the General Assembly a report for the previous calendar year including:
(1) the number of used oil collection sites available in each county to the general public;
(2) the number and location of used oil collection sites in each county receiving ongoing and start-up assistance from the Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling;
(3) the amount of used oil collected in each county."
SECTION 10. Section 48-1-10(17) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(17) `Source' means any and all points of origin of air contaminants, including motor vehicles, whether privately or publicly owned or operated;".
SECTION 11. Section 48-1-10 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end:
"(24) `Motor vehicle' means a passenger car or vehicle designed for carrying ten passengers or less and used for the transportation of persons and a light-duty truck or vehicle designed for the transportation of cargo or property which has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than eight thousand, five hundred pounds."
SECTION 12. Section 58-25-30(3) and (4) of the 1976 Code are amended to read:
"(3) Upon the execution of such the agreement by the governing bodies of the cities and the counties which include at least ninety percent of the population of the proposed service area within their jurisdictions, and only if the agreement provides for imposition of a new source of revenue such as a new tax, the question of creating such an authority under the terms of the executed agreement must be submitted for ratification to the qualified electors within the proposed service area at a general election or at a special election called for that purpose as set forth in the agreement. Upon the approval of the majority of the voters within the service area voting on the question If an existing source or sources of revenue are utilized to fund the authority an election is not required. If an election is required, the agreement shall become operational upon the approval of the majority of the voters within the service area voting on the question and the authority must be created not less than sixty days after the results of the election are certified. If an election is not required, the agreement becomes operational upon the execution of the agreement by the governing bodies of the cities and counties which include at least ninety percent of the population of the proposed service area, and the authority must be created not less than sixty days after the agreement is executed.
(4) If an election is required, the question to be placed before the electorate must state the service area of the proposed authority (cities and counties involved) and the proposed method of financing, including the level of tax to be initially imposed, and membership on the board."
SECTION 13. Section 58-25-40(1) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 202 of 1989, is further amended to read:
"(1) The members of the authority must be represented on the governing board of the authority by appointees of the governing bodies of the cities and counties within the service area as set forth in Section 58-25-35. The appointees may be elected officials of these local governing bodies and if so would serve in an ex officio capacity. The governing board of the authority must be made up of not more than two times the number of authority governmental members and up to three additional members appointed by the legislative delegation as provided in this section.
There must be at least five board members. The membership of the governing board must be apportioned among the member cities and counties proportionate to population within the authority's service area or the financial contribution to the authority by the member municipalities and counties. The method of appointment must be determined as follows: If the financial contribution of governmental members is consistent with the population base, the method is by population as provided in this section. If the financial contribution is not consistent with the population base, then the method is by ratio of financial contribution.
As many as three additional members of the governing board of a transportation authority may be appointed by the legislative delegations of the member counties if approved by the qualified electors within the proposed service area in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 58-25-30. If the authority receives a grant of the state funds from the general fund or the highway fund, the delegation shall appoint three additional members. Unless the agreement approved by the qualified electors of a service area provides otherwise, the members of the governing board appointed by the delegation must be apportioned as determined by a majority of the delegation members including the resident senator. No member government, regardless of population, may have less than one member on the board. County population must be determined after subtracting the member city population in that county. The terms of the representatives serving on the governing board of the authority must be staggered so that the terms of approximately one-third of the governing board expire each year. After the initial terms as set forth in the agreement to achieve staggered terms, subsequent terms must be for three years. Members of the governing board of the authority may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with their service on the authority but they may not receive salaries, per diem, or other compensation except that in cases of extensive services rendered per diem may be paid by a two-thirds vote of the authority."
SECTION 14. Section 58-25-40(3) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(3) Subsequent to the activation of the authority, contiguous counties or cities not participating initially may become members of the authority with the same benefits as the initial members after a majority vote of their electors voting on the question in pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 58-25-30 and with the approval by a majority vote of the board of the authority."
SECTION 15. Section 58-25-50 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-25-50. (A) The authority may:
(a)(1) purchase, lease, own, or operate or provide for the operation of transportation facilities;
(b)(2) contract for public transportation services;
(c)(3) plan in concert with any appropriate local planning operation for public transportation services;
(d)(4) exercise the power of eminent domain limited to right-of-way and contiguous facility acquisition;
(e)(5) contract with other governmental agencies, private companies, and individuals;
(f)(6) sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, complain, and defend in all courts;
(g)(7) adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal;
(h)(8) acquire, purchase, hold, lease as a lessee, and use any franchise or property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein, necessary or desirable for carrying out the purposes of the authority, and sell, lease as lessor, transfer, and dispose of any property or interest therein acquired by it;
(i)(9) fix, alter, change, and establish rates, fees, fares, and other charges for services or facilities of the authority. The rates, fees, and fares set forth in the agreement approved by the electorate may not be increased more frequently than annually. No single increase may exceed fifty percent;
(j)(10) establish public transportation routes and approve the alteration or addition of routes based primarily on a detailed analysis or proposed use and comprehensive cost analysis;
(k)(11) acquire and operate, or provide for the operation of, transportation systems, public or private, within the area, the acquisition of a system to be by negotiation and agreement between the authority and the operator of the system to be acquired;
(l)(12) make contracts of every name and nature and execute all instruments necessary or convenient for the carrying on of its business;
(m)(13) enter into management contracts with any person for the management of a public transportation system owned or controlled by the authority for a period of time, and under compensation and other terms and conditions, as may be considered advisable by the authority;
(n)(14) contract for the services of attorneys, engineers, consultants, and agents for any purpose of the authority;
(o)(15) borrow money and make and issue negotiable bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness;
(p)(16) accept gifts, grants, or loans of money or other property from and enter into contracts, leases, or other transactions with and accept funds from federal, state, or local governments, public or semipublic agencies or private individuals or corporations and expend the funds and carry out cooperative undertakings and contracts;
(q)(17) do all acts necessary for the provision of public transportation services;
(r)(18) To provide transportation services for residents of the service area to destinations outside the service area;
(s)(19) promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(B) The authority or other authorized regional transportation organization, in conjunction with all other organizations providing public transportation in the service area, shall prepare and produce a plan to coordinate public transportation services provided by each entity utilizing state funds or funds administered by the State to ensure that resources are being used in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. The coordinated transportation plan must maintain the provision, type, and level of assistance to individuals at least equal in quality to that provided by the human service transportation providers in the service area. The failure of an entity providing these services to comply with the coordinated plan must be reported by the authority or the service provider to the appropriate state agencies or funding authorities which administer, contract, grant, approve, or appropriate funds for services. Transportation resources presently owned by or under contractual agreement of the service provider must remain under the authority of the service provider."
SECTION 16. Section 58-25-60 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 58-25-60. The intended mechanism for raising the necessary local funds to support the operation of the authority must be set forth in the agreement provided for in Section 58-25-30. The declaration of intended sources of local funds does not preclude the use of other local, state, or federal sources which shall subsequently become available except for state highway construction funds which may not be used. The agreement may be amended specifically to recognize new sources. Local funds may be generated from the following source existing sources of revenue, including, but not limited to, a local sales tax approved pursuant to Chapter 10, Title 4, property tax, business license tax, accommodations tax, and franchise fees, notwithstanding other provisions of law. This source is These sources are not intended to be exclusive.
A vehicle registration fee may be levied by the governing bodies of the member cities and counties on the motor vehicles registered within the service area of the authority. If this mechanism is used, the amount of the vehicle registration fee must be set forth in the agreement and must be approved by the qualified electors within the proposed service area if an election is required by Section 58-25-30. The authority shall request the members of the General Assembly representing its service area to approve increases in the registration fee. Unless these members of the General Assembly by majority vote approve the increase, no increases may be imposed. This registration fee must be added to the personal property tax notice collected as a part of the personal property tax and the fee rebated to the authority."
SECTION 17. (A) There is created the Alternative Transportation Fuels Study Committee to conduct a comprehensive study of clean alternative transportation fuels. The members of the committee must be appointed by the chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy and must include representatives of:
(1) the State Energy Office;
(2) the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy;
(3) the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control;
(4) the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation;
(5) the Division of Motor Vehicle Management of the State Budget and Control Board; and
(6) other entities as considered appropriate by the chair.
(B) At the initial meeting of the committee, the members shall elect a chairman from among the members appointed pursuant to subsection (A). The committee shall meet upon the call of the chair.
(C) A vacancy occurring on the committee must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(D) The members of the committee shall serve at no expense to the State.
(E) The purpose of the Alternative Transportation Fuels Study Committee is to study and analyze all issues pertaining to the use of alternative transportation fuels, including, but not limited to, natural gas, propane, electricity, ethanol, methanol, solar energy, hydrogen, and reformulated gasoline, and to make recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly regarding an alternative transportation fuels strategy to be implemented by the State.
(F) The Alternative Transportation Fuels Study Committee shall:
(1) research and review current sources of transportation fuels including, but not limited to, current technical reports, ongoing projects, and other states' initiatives;
(2) research and analyze the financial implications of implementing an alternative fuels program, including other states' incentive programs and initiatives, and make recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly regarding alternative transportation fuels incentive packages. The committee shall specifically consider and make recommendations regarding:
(a) exemptions and reductions of the state motor fuels taxes for clean fuel vehicles;
(b) state-initiated, self-sustaining revolving funds for providing low or no interest financing for clean fuel vehicle purchases and conversion projects;
(c) investment tax credits for vehicle conversions, new vehicle purchases, and refueling equipment;
(d) exemptions and reductions of sales taxes associated with clean fuel vehicle purchases; and
(e) other possible incentives for clean fuel vehicle conversions, new vehicle replacements, and the development of refueling infrastructure;
(3) research and make recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly on the establishment by the State of alternative transportation fuels demonstration projects using a portion of the state's fleet by the end of the calendar year 1992 and on how to structure the demonstration projects to serve the following purposes:
(a) collect and analyze actual operating data;
(b) increase public knowledge of alternative transportation fuels; and
(c) serve as teaching and training tools for future clean transportation fuels programs;
(4) make recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly on:
(a) the establishment of percentage goals for implementing alternatively fueled vehicles in government fleets which are centrally garaged and fueled;
(b) how the State should promote alternative transportation vehicle use by private, centrally fueled and garaged fleets in designated metropolitan areas;
(c) the development of education programs for local governments and corporations which may be subject to federal or state alternative transportation fuels measures; and
(5) prioritize the alternative transportation fuels researched by the committee in terms of environmental impact, economics, availability, technological advantages, and performance.
(G) In carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (C), the committee shall consult with local companies that have expertise in alternative transportation fuels issues or which would be affected by a recommendation likely to be proposed by the committee.
(H) All meetings of the Alternative Transportation Fuels Study Committee must be open to the public.
(I) The committee shall hold at least one public hearing to allow affected companies and the general public an opportunity to comment on the proposed recommendations before presentation of the final recommendations of the committee to the Governor and to the General Assembly.
(J) The Alternative Transportation Fuels Study Committee must submit its final report and recommendations in writing to the Governor and to the General Assembly no later than six months after the effective date of this resolution.
After making its final report, the committee is dissolved.
SECTION 18. The Joint Legislative Committee on Energy shall appoint a task force to study the feasibility of establishing intrastate rail service and connecting with population centers in North Carolina and Georgia. This study must be submitted to the General Assembly no later than January 15, 1993.
SECTION 19. The State Budget and Control Board Division of Motor Vehicle Management shall determine the extent to which the state vehicle fleet can be configured to operate on alternative transportation fuels. This determination must be based on a thorough evaluation of each alternative fuel and the feasibility of using such fuels to power state vehicles. The state fleet must be configured in a manner that will serve as a model for other corporate and government fleets in the use of alternative transportation fuel. By June 1, 1993, the division must begin using alternative transportation fuels for the state vehicle fleet.
SECTION 1. This act takes effect July 1, 1992.