South Carolina Coastal Conservation League Inc

Programs: Food and agriculture: south carolina's rural landscape is primarily agricultural. In order to protect and enhance agricultural land, the conservation league works to support rural agrarian economies by promoting and advocating for policies, plans, infrastructure, and protection programs that promote sustainable agricultural practices in these threatened communities. Examples include policy work promoting water efficiency, local procurement and financing, and responsible water withdrawal practices. We work directly with farmers, government agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations and communities to ensure that farmers are able to continue farming for generations to come. As part of this work, the conservation league operates a local food hub, growfood carolina, a project dedicated to providing sales, marketing, warehousing, planning, outreach and distribution services to local farmers within 150 miles. Since its inception in 2011, growfood has channeled more than $1 million back to farmers, directly supported more than 70 farm businesses with more than 1,800 acres of farmland, and provided local produce to thousands of local customers.

energy and climate: electricity is a necessary fixture in our daily lives, and its production and distribution have vast environmental footprints. New technologies, fuel sources, and strategies for meeting demand hold great promise for minimizing these impacts. We promote the implementation of progressive local, state, and federal energy policies related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change. We have been a leader in passing some of the most progressive solar energy legislation in the nation, been at the forefront of regulatory reform, and have been instrumental in garnering support for issues involved with the negative impacts of offshore gas exploration and drilling along the sc coast.

land and community: balancing unbridled growth is central to the conservation league's mission. We help to influence the way developers, citizens, and public officials view and value their communities and landscapes promoting thoughtful, balanced development and land conservation in the right areas, at the right scale. From restructuring zoning codes to rerouting highways, we provide technical, professional and other assistance to residents of the region to help them preserve the south carolina coast. We have effectively expanded a protected greenbelt of land around the region, protected invaluable wetlands and ecosystems, and encouraged growth in efficiently-planned urban areas.