The Power of Community Advocacy Through the Conservation Advocates Alliance
The Conservation Advocates Alliance (CAA) is a community of South Carolinians committed to serving on the frontlines of the conservation movement, fighting for a healthier, more resilient future for our state. Over the 2026 legislative session, these volunteers showed up in force, from testifying at the Statehouse and meeting one-on-one with legislators to submitting written comments and sharing their voice on key conservation issues in the press.
By using their unique voices and perspectives to engage on our legislative priorities, CAA members have been integral to our progress this year. Together, we were able to establish a statewide vision for land and water protection, build momentum around policies to address unchecked growth and data center development, and fight against new fossil fuel-burning power plants in the Upstate and Lowcountry.
No matter where you live in South Carolina, unchecked development is becoming impossible to ignore. Across the state, forests and family farms are being cleared for sprawling subdivisions and strip malls, while public infrastructure and emergency services are increasingly strained. Recognizing these challenges in their own communities, CAA members spoke directly with lawmakers to relay the urgent need for sustainable planning tools to guide future growth and development. While these policies did not ultimately cross the finish line this year, the CAA was instrumental in transforming the conversation at the Statehouse and building impressive bipartisan support for our SC Prosper & Preserve policies, laying the groundwork for future progress.
Data center expansion also emerged as a major statewide issue demanding immediate attention. A single facility can consume as much electricity as an entire city and use hundreds of millions of gallons of water each year. With data center proposals already surfacing across South Carolina and an untold number of new facilities expected in the coming years, CAA advocates were passionate about meeting with their legislators to discuss guardrails that would protect their families, local businesses, and our natural resources. Although broader legislation to enact safeguards for electric customers and environmental protection stalled this session, lawmakers recognized the need for greater transparency and are currently considering further guidelines, including water-use reporting requirements, in the state budget. Stronger guardrails will be needed in the future, but community advocates ensured that data centers remained top of mind for legislators throughout the session and into next year.
Thanks to the persistence and leadership of advocates, these issues now have a stronger foundation for progress heading into the 2027–2028 legislative session. As Partnerships & Engagement Manager Evan Renshaw explains, “Passing bold environmental policy doesn’t happen overnight, and community voices are essential to moving this work forward. By uplifting advocate voices this legislative session, we were able to drive public dialogue and share stories that truly resonated with lawmakers and moved the needle on critical issues in South Carolina.”
We couldn’t be more proud of the CAA and the impact advocates have already made. Just a year ago, many members were unsure who represented them at the Statehouse and had never set foot in the lobby. Today, these same advocates are building lasting relationships with legislators and becoming trusted ambassadors for conservation across the state. We’ll continue cultivating community and sharpening advocacy skills with exclusive online advocacy trainings and in-person events over the summer to prepare the CAA for an even greater impact on state policy in the next legislative session.
If you’re ready to take your advocacy to the next level and join more than 100 CAA members speaking out on the frontlines of South Carolina’s conservation movement, visit cvsc.org/caa to learn more.