Attorney General Wilson Joins Alabama’s 19-State Energy Lawsuit Against California, Others

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined an Alabama led 19-state coalition asking the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional the efforts of California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island to dictate the future of American energy policy.

Wilson said those five states have brought unprecedented litigation against the nation’s most vital energy companies for an alleged “climate crisis,” and they demand billions of dollars in damages.

As litigation proceeds in their state courts, California and the other states threaten to impose ruinous penalties and coercive remedies that would affect energy and fuel consumption and production across the country, Wilson said.

He said the coalition raises the grave constitutional problems with California’s extraordinary tactics and asks the Supreme Court to take up a multi-state lawsuit.

“Each state is sovereign, and these other states have no right to tell South Carolina what to do, especially when their plans would cost South Carolinians more and reduce our ability to generate the energy we need,” Wilson said.

The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the 19-state lawsuit against California and the other four proposed defendants.

The coalition’s filing includes a motion, complaint, and brief, which argue that traditional energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal are essential for American prosperity.

The states also argue that the matter is of utmost importance because our system of federalism gives each state no more power than any other state.

In April, South Carolina joined a 20-state amicus brief in the Supreme Court asking the Court to review a lawsuit filed by the city and county of Honolulu, which Wilson said also seeks to impose billions of dollars in penalties on the energy industry.

Honolulu claims that the companies deceived consumers about the emissions created by everyday products like gasoline. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the energy companies’ request to hear the case.

Delta Joins ATL, Airbus, Plug Power in Hydrogen Fuel Study

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Airbus, Delta Air Lines and Plug Power have joined forces to assess the feasibility of hydrogen fueling at the world’s busiest airport in support of advancing a more sustainable future for travel.  

The study will help define the infrastructure, operational viability, and safety and security requirements needed to implement hydrogen as a potential fuel source for future aircraft operations at ATL.

It will also contribute to the understanding of supply and infrastructure requirements for hydrogen hubs at airports worldwide.  

The use of hydrogen to power future aircraft models could ultimately eliminate aircraft carbon dioxide emissions in the air while also decarbonizing air transport activities on the ground – a top priority for all of the partners as they work toward the decarbonization of the aviation industry. 

While the Atlanta-based study preliminarily launched earlier this year, it is one of three that Airbus announced with partners May 21. The study in Atlanta is scheduled for completion at the end of 2026. 

Said ATL Senior Deputy General Manager Michael Smith: “If hydrogen proves to be a viable alternative, ATL will investigate options to update infrastructure needs in order to implement the new technology. We are thrilled to participate in this study and look forward to the results.”  

As part of the study, ATL is providing the current airport layout plan and organization and will share updates on future developments and findings. 

Airbus launched the Hydrogen Hub at Airports program to jumpstart research into infrastructure requirements and low-carbon airport operations across the entire value chain.

To date, agreements have been signed with partners and airports in thirteen countries including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the U.S.  

“The U.S. has easy and massive access to additional renewable energies to produce green hydrogen, and airports are looking for a diverse and balanced energy mix to be more resilient and help reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. Hydrogen is a key enabler for this,” said Karine Guénan, Airbus’ vice president ZEROe Ecosystem. 

Delta is the largest airline operating at the world’s busiest airport and offers one of the largest commercial airline schedules globally, including service to airports in South Carolina.

It has been a core partner in the Airbus ZEROe program since 2022, when it signed on to provide expertise to identify fleet and network expectations, and the operational and infrastructure requirements needed to develop commercial aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel.

Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer Amelia Deluca said this study is part of Delta’s ongoing commitment and that no one company can solve the industry’s sustainability challenges alone.  

Plug Power is a leading provider of equipment and end-to-end, turnkey solutions for the global green hydrogen economy.

The company is building an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem including the manufacture of electrolyzers, fuel cells and hydrogen facilities across the United States to decarbonize a variety of industrial, transportation and energy needs and applications worldwide. 

South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance Announces 2024 Woman of the Year

Lindsay Leonard, senior director for Government Operations at Boeing South Carolina, was named the 2024 South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) Woman of the Year at the annual Palmetto Women’s Manufacturing Forum hosted at Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation in West Columbia.

The award was created by SCMA to honor an outstanding leader for her contributions to the state’s manufacturing industry.

Previous awardees include:

* Lou Kennedy, CEO and Owner of Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation;

* Sky Foster, communications manager at BMW Manufacturing Co. (Retired);

* Barbara Melvin, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority;

* Jann Moore, manager of State Government Affairs for Caterpillar, Inc.

* April Allen, director of Government Relations for Continental.

Leonard is a member of the BSC leadership.

Named to her position in June 2014, she has been a leader in building the site culture and operations and is directly responsible for external stakeholder engagement in South Carolina.

She leads a team responsible for public affairs, public policy, corporate social responsibility, and community outreach.

Before joining Boeing, Leonard was an associate at the law firm of White & Case LLP, in New York, where she served in both the firm’s Competition & Commercial Litigation Group.

She previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable David C. Norton, U.S. District Court, in Charleston, and also served in the U.S. Senate for two senators.

Leonard holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of North Carolina, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Fordham University School of Law.

She serves on the Economic Leadership Council of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, South Carolina State Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee and is chair of the Manufacturing Committee.

She also serves on the Clemson Industry Advisory Board, SustainSC, and Meeting Street Schools boards. She is also a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow and a Sustainability Leadership Initiative Fellow, both through Furman University.

“Lindsay’s dedication and tireless efforts to advance the manufacturing sector have left an indelible mark on South Carolina,” said Sara Hazzard, president and CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance.

Hazzard added, “Her commitment to excellence, community involvement, and leadership has elevated the impact manufacturing has throughout the Palmetto State. Lindsay exemplifies the transformative power of women in manufacturing, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps and champion progress for our industry.”

“I am honored to receive this award from SCMA, but I am just one of many women in the South Carolina manufacturing industry,” Leonard said.

She added, “Every day, thousands of females in manufacturing and STEM-based fields are innovating, improving efficiency, and setting new standards of excellence across industries. Their expertise and leadership are pivotal to the success of manufacturing in the Palmetto State.”

Applications Open for County Contributions Program Funding

Charleston County, South Carolina, is accepting applications from non-profit, 501(c) organizations seeking funding from the County Contributions Program, which includes Community Investment and Local and State Accommodations Tax funding.

The deadline to apply is June 30, 2024.

Community Investment Funding

$250,000 is available to non-profit, 501(c) organizations that provide community-based programs in Charleston County. (Maximum award of $10,000). All applications will be reviewed and ranked by county staff according to criteria established by County Council.

Local Accommodations Tax Funding

$400,000 is available to non-profit, 501(c) organizations that increase tourism in the Charleston County area through advertising and promotion. (Estimated maximum award of $40,000). All applications will be reviewed by the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the College of Charleston’s Office of Tourism Analysis, which work to determine Charleston’s tourism impact via review of economic, media, marketing, and community metrics.

State Accommodations Tax Funding

$446,692 is available to non-profit, 501(c) organizations and foundations that directly and entirely maintain tourism-related facilities in Charleston County. Eligible projects include renovations to and maintenance of these facilities. All applications will be reviewed and ranked by the State Accommodations Tax Committee according to criteria approved by County Council.

Awards for each funding opportunity are available for costs incurred between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

All awarded funding must be used by June 30, 2025. Overall funding and allocation amounts are subject to approval by County Council.

Applications are available at charlestoncounty.org/departments/budget.

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