How many Virginians does it take to mandate a light bulb?
One Del. Adam P. Ebbin, D-Alexandria.
Ebbin has introduced a bill to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs in Virginia after July 1, 2010.
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce describes the measure as the best example of a "silly business bill" so far in the session.
But Ebbin said he is doing no more than what the federal government has mandated in an effort to save energy and curtail pollution. The federal mandate, which would require a switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, would begin in 2014.
"I thought Virginia should lead the way," Ebbin said.
Since introducing the measure, Ebbin has had second thoughts. He plans to amend the measure to avoid an outright ban but to create incentives to buy the fluorescent bulbs by imposing a fee on the bulbs that most people use.
Ebbin brushed aside suggestions that the measure is environmental nannyism run amok.
"This is nothing more than what the federal government is doing," he said.
The bill would allow some exceptions, such as for bug bulbs, traffic signal bulbs and infrared bulbs.
-- Tyler Whitley
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