Hotlist: March 3, 2025
Hey friends!
One of the most critical aspects of our work at CVSC isn’t just advancing policies on energy, land protection, and clean water, it’s making sure those most affected by environmental decisions have a voice in shaping them.
State-level advocacy is where real change happens. It’s where policies that impact our daily lives are written, debated, and decided. That’s why we connect passionate advocates like you with the policy-making process, making it easier to track legislation and take action when it matters most.
Last week’s South Carolina Conservation Coalition Lobby Day was a perfect example of this advocacy in action. Many of you reading this Hotlist were among the 150+ advocates who met with lawmakers, spoke up for conservation, and demonstrated the power of grassroots engagement. But advocacy doesn’t end when Lobby Day does. The conversations you had, the policies you championed, and the issues you raised continue to move through the legislative process, and you can follow their progress.
That’s where CVSC’s Bill Tracker comes in. This online tool helps you track conservation-related legislation, see where it stands, and get updates on key votes. Our government relations and policy team closely follows each bill we track, making sure you have the information needed to act when it counts.
Advocacy is ongoing, and with the right tools and collective action, we can build a thriving future for South Carolina.
Now, let’s dive into the rest of last week’s updates!
Update on H.3309
While the House’s controversial energy bill, H.3309, was quickly taken up by the Senate Judiciary subcommittee two weeks ago, no committee hearings were held last week. However, the conversation will continue this week with a subcommittee hearing scheduled for Wednesday morning.
As we noted last week, despite some improvements, H.3309 remains a serious threat. It weakens oversight, reduces accountability and transparency for monopoly utilities, and stifles competition from cost-effective clean energy projects. Visit our Action Center below to contact your Senator today before the hearing and urge them to demand a better deal to protect captive customers and our environment with a cleaner energy future.
The bill’s path forward remains uncertain. However, after halting a similar House bill last year and convening a special committee to listen to stakeholders, we are hopeful the Senate will develop a new energy package that embraces innovative solutions that protect customers, promote competition, advance clean energy, and, ultimately, protect South Carolina’s environment.
Senate endorses exploring V.C. Summer nuclear reboot
Although major energy reform discussions remained quiet, the Senate officially passed a joint resolution, S.51, endorsing state-owned utility Santee Cooper’s efforts to seek private industry proposals for restarting the abandoned V.C. Summer Nuclear project. The resolution now moves to the House, where we anticipate swift action.
As we’ve noted before, many questions remain unanswered about this proposal—whether it will have cost impacts on existing electric customers, impacts to the environment, and how it will affect South Carolina’s future energy needs. We will continue to monitor developments closely but do not expect significant updates until the proposal process concludes in May.
Highlights
- Energy
- While no hearings on the House Energy Bill (H.3309) were held last week, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee will continue the discussion with a hearing on the bill this Wednesday morning. If you haven’t already, visit the Action Center below to urge your Senator to demand a better energy reform package that protects customers, promotes competition, advances clean energy, and ultimately protects South Carolina’s environment.
- We recently revamped the uPowerSC website to include more advocacy resources and a review of 2024 Public Service Commission (PSC) decisions. Visit the site to stay up-to-date on power company issues and look for opportunities to get involved!
- Land, Water, Ocean
- February 28th was Rosenwald Schools Day! We joined other members of the SC Rosenwald Schools Trail Study Steering Committee to celebrate the day by delivering an update to the General Assembly on the study’s progress. Over the last 15 months, the study has engaged with stakeholders across the state to develop recommendations for a state Rosenwald Schools network focusing on site protection and restoration, cohesive branding, and historical interpretation. The study will issue its report this summer, and CVSC will continue to advocate for state resources to protect these special places. Learn more about Rosenwald Schools and the study at SCRosenwaldTrail.org.
- Senator Davis’ Concurrent Infrastructure Requirements bill S.227 is receiving a hearing this Wednesday at 10:30 am. If you haven’t already emailed your Senator to ask for their support of S.227 it is now more critical than ever! Make your voice heard now so S.227 receives a favorable report on Wednesday!
- League of Conservation Voters National Environmental Scorecard
- South Carolina Federal Delegation’s performance on the latest LCV National Environmental Scorecard highlights the ongoing need for stronger conservation leadership at all levels of government. While most of our delegation in the US House and US Senate in Washington, DC received low scores on key federal environmental votes, we celebrate Congressman Jim Clyburn’s outstanding 97%—proving that a pro-environment record is both possible and necessary. The mixed performance by our federal delegation reinforces why our work at the state level is so critical, as South Carolina’s legislature has the power to drive progress through sustainable growth initiatives, clean energy adoption, and durable conservation policies. When federal leadership falls short, it’s up to CVSC to push our General Assembly in Columbia to take meaningful action that protects our state’s natural resources and communities. By building momentum locally, we can shape a more sustainable and resilient future for South Carolina. For more details on the scores and votes on LCV’s 2024 National Environmental Scorecard, visit lcv.org/congressional-scorecard/.
Shoutouts
Last week, CVSC joined nearly 60 organizations at the Statehouse for the SC Conservation Coalition’s 22nd Annual Lobby Day. Conservation Lobby Day is South Carolina’s largest environmental advocacy event of the year, uniting voices from across the state to champion policies protecting our land, water, and air for generations to come. This year, over 150 dedicated individuals met with their legislators to advocate for clean water, sustainable growth, and a clean and just energy transition. When constituents show up, lawmakers listen, making events like this essential for driving meaningful change. Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Statehouse and our celebratory Oyster Roast. Your activism makes all the difference, and we can’t wait to see you again next year!
Action Center
Here’s a round-up of current actions you can take to help us advance conservation policy during this legislative session. If you’ve already taken these actions, thank you! We’ll add more actions and provide updates as progress unfolds.
- Ask your Legislators to Support Concurrent Infrastructure Requirements
- Tell Your Senator to Reject Harmful Provisions in H.3309
- Ask Your Senator to Co-Sponsor S.288 for Transfer of Development Rights
In the News
Editorial: SC local governments need all the tools they can get to get a handle on growth | Post & Courier
The Legislative Hotlist is an update from our Government Relations Manager, Alan Lee. Sign up for emails to get the Hotlist delivered directly to your inbox!