Sen. Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, chairman of the State Public Utilities Review Committee (PURC), led a delegation to Washington on Wednesday to present a report on South Carolina’s energy resources to the members of South Carolina’s Congressional Delegation. The PURC is charged with oversight of the state’s electric and gas utilities. The report provides a comprehensive inventory and assessment of the state’s energy resources and makes recommendations to state and federal lawmakers. … [Read more...]

A bipartisan group of South Carolina legislators, echoing the position of the state-owned power company, traveled here Wednesday to urge the state's Congressional delegation to find ways to allow the state to avoid an expected federal crackdown on greenhouse gases from coal-fired power plants. Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, a Charleston Republican, and the five legislators who accompanied him hand-delivered a report to the Congressional delegation that publicly reveals for the first … [Read more...]

Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, and the members of the State Public Utilities Review Committee (“PURC”) traveled to Washington today to present a report on South Carolina’s energy resources to the members of South Carolina’s Congressional Delegation. The PURC, a joint legislative committee chaired by Sen. Thomas Alexander, and of which Rep. Harry Cato is the Vice-Chairman, is charged with oversight of the state’s electric and gas utilities. The report, prepared by the … [Read more...]

Environmentalists, in turn, slam legislative report Proposed federal pollution standards aimed at reducing greenhouse gases would hurt S.C. consumers, according to a legislative report delivered Wednesday to the state’s congressional delegation. The report criticized federal proposals to trim carbon emissions through a “cap-and-trade” system or to require utilities to buy power generated from renewable sources like solar and wind. “Some of these proposals could have severe … [Read more...]

A contingent of legislators will travel to Washington, D.C., today to deliver a message to the state's congressional delegation that South Carolina's needs must be front and center as the country takes on climate change. Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell and House Speaker Bobby Harrell, both Charleston Republicans, called the meeting to coincide with the release of a report that will detail an assessment of the state's energy resources and recommendations on what needs to happen to meet … [Read more...]

The beleaguered State Ports Authority would change its focus from profits to economic development as part of an effort to return the Port of Charleston to a position as one of the top East Coast container ports under a plan approved by a Senate panel Tuesday. That's the way Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Larry Grooms pitched the urgency of his bill to the committee, which voted 9-4 to send it to the full Senate for consideration. The bill would require the authority to develop a … [Read more...]

South Carolina state senators have approved legislation that toughens penalties against students who assault teachers or other school employees. Students who seriously injure a teacher on school grounds or at a school-sponsored event would be guilty of a felony. Students convicted of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature could be sent to prison for up to 10 years or fined up to $5,000. A misdemeanor assault would bring students up to 30 days in jail or a $1,000 fine under the … [Read more...]

Advocates for Charleston dock workers and maritime interests, along with an environmentalist, testified before a Senate panel Monday about the need for changes to the State Ports Authority. The Senate Transportation Subcommittee advanced legislation that would restructure the management of the ports agency after hearing testimony that expressed support for the plan. The bill will be considered by the full Transportation Committee today. No one from the ports authority spoke during the meeting. … [Read more...]

Plan To Bring Stability & Oversight Passes Subcommittee A strict plan to make the SC State Ports Authority more accountable and stable has passed a key Transportation subcommittee. Sponsored by Transportation Committee Chairman Larry Grooms and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, the plan restructures the State Ports Authority (SPA), creates additional legislative oversight and restructures the governance, management, and planning structure of the SPA. Senator Grooms calls the … [Read more...]

Energy Policy Will Shape Economic Growth In South Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) and Senator Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee) today announced that they will lead a delegation of South Carolina legislators and others to meet with the state’s Congressional delegation in Washington, DC to discuss future energy policy. The unprecedented meeting was requested by Senator Glenn McConnell and Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell to present a report of the state’s … [Read more...]