Sanford appoints 9 to climate panel

Gov. Mark Sanford is naming nine members to his Climate, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee, which will review possible climate change effects in South Carolina and formulate strategies to address those changes going forward.

Sanford named the following people to the group, which will be expanded to include representatives from various stake-holding groups:

• Lonnie Carter, Moncks Corner, president and CEO of Santee Cooper
• Bill Timmerman, Columbia, CEO of SCANA
• Dana Beach, Charleston, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League
• Reggie Gallant, Columbia, Southern Zone vice president of State Farm
• Barry Falin, Columbia, vice president and general manager for Carolina Operations of Voridian
• Dr. Marcus Newberry, Greenville, former dean of the MUSC College of Medicine
• Ladd Hall, Berkeley, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel
• Rep. Ben Hagood, R-Sullivans Island
• Sen. John Courson, R-Columbia