A better-balanced South Carolina Energy Security Act The omnibus energy bill H.3309 was recently passed by the S.C. House of Representatives and is currently under consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Conservation League is working to encourage senators to ensure the bill is as balanced as possible, with amendments that could help unlock the valuable cost-saving potential…
It has been a long and cold winter season, but…
This legislative session, the Conservation League has been helping to shape a more reliable, clean, and affordable energy future for South Carolina, advocating on behalf of ratepayers across the state and our special landscapes at risk amid proposed energy expansion projects. Most recently, Energy & Climate Program Director Taylor Allred gave testimony at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee in early March to share recommendations towards a more…
On February 24, Hollywood Town Council held a public hearing for the rezoning request of 36 parcels from Rural Agriculture to Residential 1. Totaling 277 acres, the developers of Longleaf Estates plan to construct 342 residential lots. While the current zoning allows for 402 units to be built, the position of the wetlands on the property would hinder such a buildout without filling in the wetlands. Additionally, all units are…
Heavier plastic bags, plastic utensils, straws, styrofoam cups and carry-out containers pose a significant long-term threat to our environment. Nearly 50% of Beaufort County is composed of salt marsh and tidal rivers and all too often, plastic and styrofoam products end up polluting our estuaries, where they can be ingested by wildlife or break down into harmful microplastic particles. Help Beaufort County Reduce Plastic Waste Beaufort County has…
Will South Carolina ultimately see the massive boom in data center development some are expecting? A new report could help to provide clarity at a critical time for shaping our state’s energy future and helping to ensure we have reliable electric service that is as affordable as possible. In November, Applied Economics Clinic, a non-profit consulting group, released a white paper on electric utility load forecasting best practices, with a focus…
Yarley Steedly joined the Conservation League at the end of 2024 as our new Director of Government Relations. She’ll be leading our legislative efforts at the Statehouse in Columbia. Prior to joining the Conservation League, she worked for the public and nonprofit sectors, where she sharpened her government relations and lobbying skills advocating for issues in the fields of public health, public education, and higher education. Yarley double majored in political science and environmental…
Earlier this week, President Biden announced the withdrawal of the East Coast, West Coast, Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from consideration for future offshore drilling — forever! The Conservation League has long worked to oppose offshore drilling in South Carolina. This action resolves key shortcomings we pointed out in a 2020 moratorium on oil operations off the Southeast coast and is a significant victory for our…
Howdy holidays, y’all! With shorter days and lower temperatures, I find this time of year is best for drinking a warm cup of tea, snuggling up to my senior orange cat, Darwin, and as of lately, writing. In September, I embarked on a year-long creative writing…
I’m dreaming of a white coral… Lophelia, of course! These deep-sea corals are naturally white in color, different from their colorful surface-level counterparts. Deep beneath the surface and just 6o miles off the coast of South Carolina, the Blake Plateau is a winter wonderland. No, really! Temperatures along the Blake Plateau average a chilly 39°F, and marine snow falls from the surface daily, landing on a sea…
