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Hands Off Beidler Forest!

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Santee Cooper wants to cut down hundreds of trees in the Francis Beidler Forest, including sections of original and old growth, to make way for a new transmission line. Beidler is the world’s largest old-growth cypress-tupelo swamp forest, featuring thousand-year-old trees, a vibrant ecosystem, and flowing blackwater that attracts photographers and nature lovers from all over the world. To proceed with their plan, Santee Cooper must obtain…

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Highway 41 Corridor Improvements: Fact vs. Fiction

Monday, July 7, 2025

On July 8, you will have an opportunity to speak up in support of a balanced compromise for Highway 41.   In 2020, Charleston County proposed widening Highway 41 to five lanes through the historic Phillips community, but given concerns expressed by residents and advocacy from the Conservation League and our partners, it shelved that initial plan and designed a Compromise Alternative. This compromise balances the needs of all communities along…

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GROUPS APPEAL HARMFUL SEPTIC RULING

Monday, July 7, 2025

On June 27, 2025, the Charleston Waterkeeper and Coastal Conservation League filed a notice of appeal in the South Carolina Court of Appeals in a case considering septic tank permits and the unique realities of the coast, where development pressures and climate impacts compound management challenges. The appeal challenges a lower court’s ruling that the state Department of Environmental Services (DES) is not required to apply Coastal Management Program policies in…

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Speak up in support of a balanced compromise for Highway 41

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Join us Tuesday, July 8 at Mount Pleasant Town Council to speak up in support of a balanced compromise for Highway 41. In 2020, Charleston County proposed widening Highway 41 to five lanes through the Phillips community but given concerns expressed by residents and advocacy from the Conservation League and our partners, it shelved that initial plan and designed a Compromise Alternative. This…

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Energy burden pt. 3: Where do we go from here?

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Three-part blog series by Spring 2025 Energy & Climate Intern Ava Ambroggio    A key factor contributing to the disparity in success between Illinois’ Home Energy Savings (HES) program and Duke Energy’s Neighborhood Energy Saver (NES) and Dominion Energy’s Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP) appears to be significant differences in program funding.  In 2023, HES operated with a yearly budget of $32 million. In contrast, Dominion and Duke Energy allocated approximately…

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Energy burden pt. 2: How are utilities involved?

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Three-part blog series by Spring 2025 Energy & Climate Intern Ava Ambroggio    Recognizing the disproportionate energy burden that low-income communities experience, utilities offer programs to address inefficient energy consumption.  Their programs often feature “direct install” measures, which are energy efficiency upgrades that the utility or its contractors install for free. The alternative is a loan or rebate program that requires cost sharing or upfront investment by participants.    The…

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Energy burden pt. 1: What is it?

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Three-part blog series by Spring 2025 Energy & Climate Intern Ava Ambroggio    An energy burden is the portion of a household’s annual income spent on home energy costs.   Housing and energy experts recommend that households spend no more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs, with no more than 6 percent dedicated to energy expenses. For example, a household with a $75,000 annual income should spend no…

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What’s next for Tickton Hall

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

On Monday night, the Town of Ridgeland’s Planning Commission voted 3-2 in favor of the proposed “Special District” zoning for Tickton Hall. This upzoning would allow for 2,034 homes, 50 docks on Euhaw Creek, and 250,000 square feet of commercial space. Such a development could have major impacts to the environment and quality of life for Jasper and Beaufort County residents. Further, Highway 462 is already dealing with high traffic volumes, and…

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South Carolina coast being considered for offshore drilling

Thursday, June 5, 2025

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS You can tell the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to not drill along the South Carolina coastline by submitting comments until June 16th. Recently, the federal government announced its resumed consideration of South Carolina for offshore drilling and will soon begin an evaluation of potential locations along our coastline. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is now accepting…

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Tickton Hall Reemerges

Thursday, June 5, 2025

The future of Tickton Hall is hanging in the balance. We are counting on you to advocate for its protection. Tickton Hall, a 1,520-acre property formerly a part of Chelsea, is at risk of overdevelopment. Tickton Hall is located off Hwy. 462 and shares a 9,000-foot border with Euhaw Creek. Situated in a key wildlife corridor along the…

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