Bill > S0326

This bill introduces the South Carolina Emergency Fuel Supply Act, which requires certain fuel stations to prepare for emergency power situations by installing pre-wiring for backup generators. Specifically, any new fuel station constructed after January 1, 2025, located within a half mile of a designated evacuation route or on a primary highway must install wiring that can connect a backup generator to power fuel pumps, cash registers, and essential lighting. Existing fuel stations will not need to retrofit unless they undergo significant renovations (defined as renovations exceeding 50% of the station's assessed value). Additionally, fuel station chains operating ten or more locations in South Carolina must, by January 1, 2026, install the necessary pre-wiring and have access to a working generator that can be deployed within 24 hours of a declared emergency. The Department of Environmental Services will oversee compliance and can impose fines on non-compliant stations. The primary goal of this legislation is to ensure fuel availability during emergencies by requiring fuel stations in strategic locations to have the capability to maintain operations during power outages, which is particularly important along evacuation routes during natural disasters or other critical events.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0326&session=126&summary=B