SC legislature passes annual closure of Deveaux Bank This week, the South Carolina legislature officially approved a change to state regulation that closes Deveaux Bank to public access from March 15 to October 15 annually to protect nesting and migratory coastal birds! Deveaux Bank is a critically…
Vint Hill, VA – Family farmers across the United States are facing unprecedented uncertainty due to a federal funding freeze by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Thousands of farmers across the country have not been reimbursed for high quality food they have already delivered to schools, food banks, and local pantries and do not know whether USDA-funded contracts they have for the 2025 crop year will be honored. Local…
The 2025 legislative session is now underway, and a few bills have emerged as focal points: House Bill 3309, Senate Bill 12, and House Bill 3928. H3309 seeks to rollback important regulatory oversight of electric utilities and authorize a joint venture between Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy for the construction of a major new gas plant, among other provisions. S12 specifically addresses…
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…
