News
Press Release
September 23, 2009
Conservation Voters Honors Green Legislators at Luncheon
September 16 – Columbia. Over 300 people, including 20 state legislators, three gubernatorial candidates and former Governor Richard W. Riley, attended the first annual Green Tie Luncheon, an awards banquet hosted by Conservation Voters of South Carolina. The luncheon honored Senate and House conservation leaders in the General Assembly. Honorees included Senators John Courson (R-Richmond) and Phil Leventis (D-Sumter) and Representatives Bill Herbkersman (R-Beaufort) and James Smith (D-Richland).
Two special awards were also given, the Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award, to former Senator John Drummond, and the Conservation Advocacy Award, to former State Representative Harriet Keyserling. The Conservation Advocacy Award will be named in Keyserling's honor.
In her comments to attendees, CVSC Executive Director
CVSC Board Chair Dr. Harry Shealy, a biology professor at USC Aiken, noted, "The decisions we make now will not only impact the outdoors, but our public health. We need to balance economic development with ensuring clean air, clean water, and healthy, sustainable communities. A clean environment is the best way to attract the right kinds of businesses to South Carolina."
Indeed, the luncheon attracted dozens of financial sponsors from South Carolina's growing clean energy economy, including Agri-Tech Producers, Argand Energy Solutions, Southern Energy Consulting, and Half-Moon Outfitters.
Both Senate honorees, Courson and Leventis, have championed the Conservation Bank, urged action to reduce carbon emissions and promoted clean energy incentives. They have also waged the battle against hazardous waste and their support was instrumental in upholding the Atlantic Compact to end South Carolina’s role as the nation’s nuclear waste dump. Both Senators have also pledged to help bring more accountability to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Senator Leventis led the successful campaign in the 1990s to allow local communities to enact protective hog farming ordinances. Senator Courson also hosts “Conversations with Conservationists,” the annual unveiling for the Senate of the conservation community’s legislative priorities.
For leadership in the House, the conservation community looks to Representatives Bill Herbkersman and James Smith to promote and protect environmental bills. Rep. Smith has had a 100% on all three Conservation Voters Scorecards. Rep. Herbkersman arrived at the State House in 2003 and he has steadily improved his scores and hit 100% on the 2008 Scorecard.
When the House Agriculture Committee was considering undoing the Atlantic Compact, Rep. Herbkersman was one of the few members who testified on behalf of his constituents who are downstream from the Barnwell waste dump. As an eco-developer and owner of Marina Front Development, Rep. Herbkersman aims to create affordable housing and redevelop undesirable areas. He has also proven to be a true champion for his community in the debate over annexation and regulatory takings.
Rep. Smith helped launch the Conservation Bank and both he and Rep. Herbkersman have fought to protect its funding. Rep. Smith recently sponsored a bill that will protect South Carolina’s native turtles from export, and he also fought to increase the solar tax credit limit. He is currently working on a bill to establish an aggressive state renewable energy standard.
Conservation Voters also honored retired Sen. John Drummond at the luncheon. Since 1965 when he “went to work” at the State House, as he often says, Sen. Drummond has been a steadfast leader for land protection funding. His lifelong interest in promoting outdoor ethics and stewardship led him to champion the Conservation Bank, the Palmetto Trail and funding for the Department of Natural Resources.
The recipient of the Conservation Advocacy Award, Harriet Keyserling, served in the House from 1977-1993. During that time she helped create and pass several bills, including the South Carolina Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 1992, the Southeastern Interstate Low-Level Waste Compact, the Energy Tax Credit Bill, and the Prohibition of Nuclear Waste from Foreign Countries Act.
From 1979 to 1982, Keyserling served on the Congressional Advisory Panel on Nuclear Waste Disposal. As chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy, she pushed for a long-range policy for energy planning and succeeded in establishing the state’s first Energy Office. She currently serves on several boards including Conservation Voters of South Carolina.
Contact:
John Ramsburgh
john@conservationvotersofsc.org
803-799-0716 (office)
803-743-6144 (cell)
