Hotlist: January 14, 2025
If you’re reading this, that can only mean one thing—the 2025 Legislative Session is here! The team at CVSC is excited about this new session, and we hope you are, too.
Every year, we decide on priorities that we’ll push for the upcoming session. We’ll outline these legislative priorities below, including a look at H.3309—the new energy bill that closely mirrors H.5118, a dangerous and far-reaching proposal we actively opposed last session.
H.3309: Energy Reform Déjà Vu? The dangerous and highly criticized energy bill we fought last year is back in the House and moving quickly, with a subcommittee meeting already scheduled for this Wednesday! Reintroduced as H.3309, this enormous bill contains the same dangerous provisions from last year’s H.5118. It would lead to less oversight and accountability for monopoly utilities and a dirty and expensive energy future for South Carolina.
When the public speaks up, legislators listen. Tell Your Representative to reject the anti-consumer and anti-environment provisions in H.3309. We also urge you to attend the hearing on H.3309 tomorrow, Wednesday, January 15th, at 11:00 a.m. Sign up and learn more here!
The House Pushes While the Senate Plots: As mentioned above, the House is moving quickly on H.3309. However, the Senate—which rejected the House version of the strikingly similar bill last year—has indicated it will develop its energy reform bill this session.
A committee led by Senator Massey dedicated significant effort to energy issues this past fall, so we anticipate action from the Senate. Whether this takes the form of a new bill or the Senate takes up the House bill later in the session remains uncertain.
Stay tuned for what is likely to be a major issue at the Statehouse this session!
Improving Land Use in South Carolina Did you know that South Carolina is the fastest-growing state in the country? You’ve probably felt that growth in your daily commute and seen it in housing developments popping up left and right. While that growth can be good for our state’s economy, it is also a leading driver of greenspace loss and threatens the loss of South Carolina’s sense of place which has driven the growth in the first place. To avoid losing what makes our home so special, we need to empower local governments by providing them with tools that encourage sustainable growth. That is why CVSC is advocating for Transferrable Development Rights and Concurrency in the upcoming session.
Transferable Development Rights are programs developed at the local level that allow property owners to sell the development rights of their land to other property owners or developers. This creates a voluntary, market-based approach to guiding growth while preserving critical lands like farms, forests, and open spaces.
Concurrent Infrastructure Requirements are a proactive land use planning tool that ensures development is aligned with the availability of essential infrastructure, such as roads, schools, water, and sewer services. Under concurrency policies, new developments can only proceed if the necessary public facilities are in place or if developers fund improvements within a specific timeframe.
Both Transferable Development Rights and Concurrent Infrastructure Requirements allow local governments to target density in areas suitable for development while encouraging the preservation of ecologically or culturally significant lands.
We’ll share much more about these tools in the coming months but know that the time for action is now—before sprawl and overdevelopment threaten to overrun the South Carolina we love.
If you have any questions about our legislative priorities or what’s currently happening at the Statehouse, please contact our team—we’re always here to help!
Updates
- Energy
- Representatives are moving fast after reintroducing the dangerous and far-reaching energy bill we fought last year as H.3309. A subcommittee hearing is taking place this Wednesday at 11:00 am, and we need your help to tell legislators that we need a bill that works for South Carolinians and our environment. Please send a message to your legislator or join CVSC at the Statehouse if you can make it!
- Events
- Join CVSC at the subcommittee hearing on H.3309 Wednesday, January 15th, at 11:00 am to demand your legislators reject the dangerous provisions of the bill and instead pass more responsible energy policies that protect customers and the environment. Whether you plan to speak or not, your presence will send a powerful message to legislators. Let us know if you plan to attend!
- If you’d like to hear more about what to expect at the subcommittee hearing on Wednesday or practice your testimony, CVSC is hosting office hours today, from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm, and tomorrow, January 14, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm.
- Join the CVSC team on January 22nd from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm at Liability Brewing in Greenville to meet other conservation-minded people, learn more about how you can advocate on local and statewide environmental issues, and unwind while supporting a great cause. Register here!
- Partnerships
- The SC Conservation Coalition (SCCC)–a statewide alliance of over 40 conservation organizations–is hosting some exciting events soon. Check out these opportunities to get more involved with the conservation community!
- Join the SCCC at 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 15th, to brief legislators on the critical environmental and conservation issues facing our state in 2025. Register here!
- The SC Conservation Coalition (SCCC)–a statewide alliance of over 40 conservation organizations–is hosting some exciting events soon. Check out these opportunities to get more involved with the conservation community!
- Join the SCCC on Tuesday, February 25th, for the annual Lobby Day and Oyster Roast! Make your voice heard at the Statehouse, connect with elected officials, and celebrate conservation with fellow advocates and partners. To find more details and register, click here!
Your Support is Critical: Defend South Carolina’s Future
This year, our environment and communities face escalating challenges: polluted waterways, worsening coastal erosion, stronger storms, and devastating climate-driven flooding
We need your help now to act where it matters most when it matters most.
By becoming a monthly donor to CVSC, you provide the sustained support needed to:
- Advocate for stronger environmental protections.
- Build storm resiliency to combat coastal erosion.
- Preserve South Carolina’s unique character amidst rapid development.
Your monthly gift of just $9 can impact the South Carolina you love—ensuring we can confidently plan for the future and defend our environment when it’s most critical.
Please, don’t wait. Join us today and pledge your monthly support now.
Together, we can safeguard South Carolina’s future. Thank you for your commitment!