Committee to meet on wind energy potential

COLUMBIA --- Whether wind farms can whip up some energy in South Carolina is the question a new committee will ponder this week.

The Wind Energy Production Farms Feasibility Committee will hold its first meeting Monday to brief members, who include environmental officials, lawmakers and industry representatives. The briefing will deal with past and current wind energy projects.

A different energy study committee, dealing with offshore natural-gas exploration, is expected to release its final report any day.

The House returns this week after a two-week break. Lawmakers will consider H. 3297, which imposes nutritional requirements on food offered in K-12 schools. H. 3718 would prohibit a store from reselling fresh or frozen meat that has been returned by a customer.

Also coming up this week is H. 3735, which requires hospitals to inform families of their right to receive an autopsy of a loved one who died in the hospital.

The topic of whether public schools should address dating violence is also scheduled to arise.

An election reform bill will come before a panel Tuesday. Under H. 3608, anyone would be allowed to vote 15 days before a statewide primary or general election. Early voting would end three days before the day of the election.