Two steps forward, one step back: National energy and conservation news
While the majority of our work is focused on protecting the critical lands, abundant waters, and unique character of the ten counties that comprise SC's Upstate, there's no denying that national energy and conservation policies impact us right here at home. From the passing of a landmark conservation bill to environmental policy rollbacks
, here are a few recent national headlines — and how they impact you:
The
Great American Outdoors Act
passed through Congress
On Wednesday, July 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the
Great American Outdoors Act. This bill is on its way to the President's desk to be signed. Once law, it will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), providing billions of dollars in funding for parks, trails, and public lands and waters across the country each year.
Did you know the LWCF has funded projects in nearly every county in the country?
In the Upstate, future funding can mean investing in residents' physical and mental health, boosting local economies through tourism and outdoor recreation, and creating a more resilient agricultural industry.
Thank you to all who reached out to their representatives to pass this important legislation —
your voice made a difference! And our sincere thanks to our Upstate representatives who supported this bill:
Senator Lindsey Graham (who co-sponsored the Act),
Senator Tim Scott, and
Representative Jeff Duncan. You can find contact info below to thank them for supporting this important legislation:
Senator Lindsey Graham
290 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5972
Senator Tim Scott
104 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6121
Representative Jeff Duncan
2229 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5301
Victory for solar energy
Last month, we asked you to help us fight an attack on residential solar net metering at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Net metering compensates solar customers for any power provided back to the grid from their solar panels, and it is a foundational and long-standing policy for encouraging rooftop solar.
We are pleased to report that we won!
Upstate Forever represented you and joined with the
Southern Environmental Law Center and other Southeast organizations to file extensive comments (including many of
your comments). FERC heard from over 50,000 individuals and 600 organizations, states, regulators, and elected officials, all supporting state control of net metering, and in turn issued a unanimous rejection of a petition filed by the New England Ratepayers Association (NERA) that
would have raised utility bills for solar customers here in South Carolina. You can read our comments and more about the case
here, and find media coverage of the FERC rejection of the NERA petition
here.
National Environmental Policy Act rollbacks
And finally, some disappointing news on the national front. Last week, President Trump announced rollbacks to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For 50 years, NEPA has provided communities — often marginalized, poor, and minority neighborhoods — the opportunity to delay or stop potentially harmful projects like highways and pipelines.
In our region, a weakening of NEPA would effectively silence the Upstate voice on projects ranging from pipelines and federal road projects all the way up to how the nearby national forests Pisgah, Sumter, and Nantahala — where we hike, bike, fish and play — are managed. Those national forests also impact some of our drinking water sources.
We have joined 15 other conservation organizations represented by the
Southern Environmental Law Center
to challenge this decision. We'll keep you informed as this situation advances.
