South Carolina Battles Feds Over Light Bulbs

South Carolina lawmakers have seen the light, and they want to retain old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. The bulbs, set to be phased out under federal efficiency standards over the next three years, could stay on the shelves in the Palmetto State, The Foundry blog reports.

Fluorescent Light Bulb

The Incandescent Light Bulb Freedom Act has already unanimously passed a state Senate panel and will be debated next in the House. It would allow the old bulbs to be sold only if they are stamped “Made in South Carolina.” They would be banned from sale outside the state.

Ray Schlosser, president of American Light Bulb Manufacturing, which has a plant in Mullins, S.C., that stands to gain from the bill, welcomed the news.

"The federal government was just trying to shove this down Americans' throats too quickly," Schlosser said.

Under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, the spiral compact fluorescent lamp bulb will take over virtually the entire market between 40 and 150 watts by 2014.

Foundry says South Carolina’s efforts show that people are fed up with the federal government restricting individual choice. “If the CFL bulb is a better choice, consumers will make that choice without the government’s push,” the website points out.

CFLs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but are said to last longer and use less electricity. However, many people prefer the soft glow given off by the old bulb and last month German scientists claimed the new bulbs could cause cancer.

Foundry also says that many people use heat from incandescent bulbs to stop their water system from freezing.