South Carolina Secedes…from the CFL Regime
By Jason Johnson | Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 | PolicyIn this month’s issue of Bearing Drift magazine, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli praises the “Reemergence of Federalism” and blasts Congress’ perversion of the Constitution’s Commerce Clause. Prior to the passage of Obamacare, perhaps the most egregious abuse of the Commerce Clause was the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act—passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress and signed by a Republican president—particularly its provision banning the sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2014.
The Heritage Foundation reports today that one state is ready to secede from the federally mandated compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) regime: South Carolina
The Incandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act, which unanimously passed South Carolina’s Senate panel, would allow South Carolina manufacturers to continue to sell incandescent bulbs so long as they have “Made in South Carolina” on them and are sold only within the state. Other states have floated the idea, and last year Arizona passed a bill that would have done the same thing, but Governor Jan Brewer (R) vetoed the legislation.
Virginia should follow South Carolina’s example by proposing similar legislation next year when the new General Assembly convenes. While the debate between incandescent light bulbs and CFLs is an important component of broader arguments over federalism and the free market, in the Commonwealth, it is also a matter of jobs.
Last September, Bearing Drift contributor DCH lamented the closure of America’s last major factory producing incandescent light bulbs. Located in Winchester, Virginia, the plant employed 200 people—all of whom lost their jobs. Sadly, these unemployed workers are not being rehired to make CFLs because almost all of the CFLs sold in the U.S. are made in China. By implementing legislation similar to the South Carolina bill, Virginia could reclaim some of the jobs we have lost due to the Energy Independence and Security Act, not to mention the possibility of increased sales tax revenues as consumers from neighboring states drive in to purchase a box of “Made in Virginia” light bulbs.
It is ironic that the party which says the government has no right to tell you what to do in your own bedroom thinks that it is completely within its rights to tell you what kind of light bulb you must have in your bedroom.
This post is not intended to be anti-CFL, although my family has had a raging debate over light bulbs for many years: my father prefers CFLs for their energy-savings, I despise them for their inferior light quality and the hazmat suit one needs to wear if—God forbid—a CFL should break in your home. Furthermore, I am more concerned about the possibility that mercury might seep into the groundwater from CFLs that were improperly disposed of than I am from any global warming that might occur because someone used an incandescent light bulb.
If consumers freely choose to purchase CFLs, making the incandescent light bulb obsolete, I will be disappointed but that is the “invisible hand” of the market at work. However, until the federal government can manage its own affairs, it doesn’t need to Main Street store owners how to manage theirs. South Carolina’s legislators are right to send that reminder to Washington. Here’s hoping Virginia’s legislators send the same message soon, too.
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A lifelong political junkie, Jason caught the political bug as a fifth grader after meeting George Allen in 1993. Since then he has studied political science at both the undergraduate and graduate level. When not perusing the blogs or volunteering for conservative Republicans, Jason enjoys cheering on his beloved Virginia Tech Hokies and spending time at his Bedford County home.
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6 Responses to "South Carolina Secedes…from the CFL Regime"
Holy John C. Calhoun, Batman! Can you say “Nullification?”
Sorry HisRoc…when you get between me and my reading lamp it becomes personal.
Jason,
Actually, I agree with you. My personal favorite Act of Congress is the One Gallon Per Flush Toilet Law, or whatever it is really called, closely followed by the National 55 MPH Speed Limit. However, the remedy to these abuses is not Nullification. The remedy lies with the electorate who send morons like Ed Markey, Sheila Jackson-Lee, and all the other brain-dead do-gooders to Congress and with the Federal Judiciary.
In other words, these problems cannot be solved at the state level–they need to be addressed where they originated, at the Federal level. Otherwise, the Constitution means nothing.
Correction: long term market forces do encourage consumers to purchase CFLs. Additionally, the law does not prohibit incandescent bulbs, it prohibits inefficient bulbs. This is why we’re seeing new, much more efficient, incandescent bulbs on the market.
Unfortunately, as consumers, we tend to think in the short term and go for a $0.35 incandescent bulb as opposed to a $5.00 CFL bulb. When comparing life span and energy consumption the CFL is much cheaper over the life of the bulb.
Why would you be disappointed in consumers choosing a much more economical and environmental light bulb? Don’t be concerned with mercury, the amount emitted into the atmosphere by burning coal far exceeds the amount released by broken CFLs.
But don’t concern yourself too much, LEDs are right around the corner. Their initial costs are still high, but again, over the life of the bulb they are pretty economical.
HisRoc,
Low flow toilets and faucets have been quite effective in cutting back water usage. Population has increased in many areas and water usage has stayed the same or even decreased due to these devices and water conservation campaigns.
ToR,
Low flow toilets are high on my list of examples of The Law of Unintended Consequences. In San Francisco, where the movement for water-conserving toilets began, they are now mixing bleach into sewage to kill the odor of the sludge before it is dumped into the SF Bay. The lack of water to dilute the sewage is the culprit. So now, instead of using enough water to dilute the sewage, they are going to dump bleach into the environment.
http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-02-28/bay-area/28638647_1_low-flow-toilets-drinking-water-city-drains
Where are these more efficient incandescent bulbs being sold?
Don’t LEDs give some people headaches? They don’t even look like they’re meant for anything really big and bright.
I don’t care what burning coal does if breaking a mercury-filled bulb is enough to cause a home disaster, along the lines of needing expensive clean-up and a Hazmat suit, and I have read articles indicating that breaking a CFL causes this.
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