A Letter from the President
Friends,
As I reflect on 2024, I’m struck by the pace, passion, and progress of our work. No two days at CVSC are the same—something I often mention when asked what I love most about this organization—and this year was a perfect example of the unexpected challenges and monumental successes we faced together. From launching innovative programs to navigating the whirlwind of a high-stakes election cycle, 2024 was a landmark year for CVSC.
CVSC Education Fund kicked off the year by launching the Palmetto Leadership Academy, a pioneering program aimed at empowering the next generation of conservation leaders to serve on South Carolina’s various boards and commissions. This initiative has already proven to be a gamechanger, equipping local leaders with the skills and strategies needed to drive lasting change in their communities.
Throughout the first half of the year, CVSC successfully defeated dangerous and farreaching energy legislation that prioritized utility greed and threatened both ratepayers and our natural resources. Through tireless lobbying, grassroots mobilization, and strategic partnerships, we shielded our state from a proposal that threatened to undo years of progress and cause lasting harm to community health and critical ecosystems.
In parallel, we devoted time to developing CVSC and CVSCEF’s next visionary strategic plans, charting a bold course for the next decade These plans will be our guiding light as we continue to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable
future for the Palmetto State. This roadmap will keep CVSC at the forefront of conservation efforts to ensure our land, air, and water remain safeguarded for generations to come.
Of course, the 2024 election cycle was also a focal point of CVSC and CVSC PAC’s efforts. This year, we made our most ambitious election investments to date, raising unprecedented funds to support conservation champions and conducting over 4.7 million voter contacts across the primary, runoff, and general elections. We expanded our political team, interviewed candidates thoroughly, and utilized cutting-edge data to maximize our outreach. While we celebrated a number of key victories, we also faced some tough defeats. These outcomes and implications are explored further in the elections section on page four.
What’s clear is that, while some election results were unexpected, our mission and momentum remain steadfast . We’ve navigated uncertain political landscapes before, most notably from 2017 to 2020, when we built bipartisan support to achieve transformative conservation victories. We secured the permanent reauthorization of the Conservation Bank, passed a state ban on offshore drilling, and championed the groundbreaking Energy Freedom Act, proving that even in challenging times, bold conservation wins are possible.
As we move forward into a period of political questions—especially with the presence of a new supermajority in the State Senate and a new federal administration that has made a number of anti-
environment pledges—CVSC remains committed to building consensus, forging alliances, and advancing bold conservation policies. With your support, your continued action, and your voice, CVSC and the conservation movement will continue to rise to every challenge, just as we always have. Together, we’ll protect the South Carolina we love and ensure a bright, sustainable future.
Thank you for being part of this journey. I look forward to the next chapter with you by our side.
John Tynan PRESIDENT
Election Highlights
As outlined in the President’s letter on page two, CVSC and CVSC PAC made the largest and boldest election investments in our 21-year history. This year, we invested over $1.4 million in our political programs, reaching over 4 million voter contacts across the state to support conservation candidates. We knocked on 105,000 doors, made 136,000 phone calls, sent 350,000 texts, distributed 1,093,000 mailers with voting and candidate information, and ran a robust series of digital and radio ads to back candidates committed to protecting South Carolina’s air, land, and water.
$1.4 million
Invested in political programs
136,000
Phone calls made
We made these ambitious investments because we have ambitious goals. If we are going to protect three million more acres of land and water, ensure every community has access to clean water and air, and lead South Carolina toward a clean energy economy, we need bold conservation champions in office—champions who will advance these priorities in the Statehouse and local county councils.
This year’s elections brought some significant wins. In the June primaries and November general elections, we successfully supported pragmatic Republicans in key open seats, defended proven Democratic conservation champions in swing districts in the Midlands and Lowcountry, helped elect new conservation advocates in hotly contested State Senate races, and persuaded voters in Jasper County to pass a ballot referendum that will generate nearly $100 million for local land protection.
105,000
Doors knocked on
350,000
Texts sent
1,093,000
Mailers distributed
However, there were also tough losses. Many far-right Freedom Caucus incumbents retained their seats in the primary, riding a wave of ‘incumbent support.’ National political trends contributed to the defeat of four key Senate allies in the general election. A handful of swing districts in the House remained under anti-environment control, and opportunities to elect pro-conservation County Councils in Greenville and Charleston Counties slipped through our fingers—for now. You can review the results and endorsements from each district at cvsc.org/elections
Our vision for the future of conservation in South Carolina hinges on policy decisions made in both Columbia and communities throughout the state. Whether advocating for clean energy solutions to combat the climate crisis, protecting millions of acres of land and water, or ensuring safe water for fishing, swimming, and drinking, we will need bipartisan support—from the most influential state lawmakers to the newest City Council members. Success depends not only on advancing bold conservation policy in the General Assembly but also on ensuring that local governments implement these crucial measures.
The mixed results of the 2024 elections mean that CVSC and the broader conservation movement will need to be intentional, strategic, and creative in framing issues and building political alliances. We are prepared to invest in bipartisan political efforts and lobbying strategies that will forge deeper relationships at the state and local levels. Together, we’ll build durable, bipartisan coalitions to introduce and advance bold policy solutions.
Accountability will be key. We will hold Senators, House members, and local Council members accountable for their votes, ensuring that constituents know when lawmakers are championing a clean, healthy environment—or working against it. Expanded accountability efforts will allow us to communicate with voters early and often, building momentum for policy and electoral victories in the coming years.
Year-round engagement will be critical to our success. We saw lower voter turnout in almost every county compared to 2020, a trend we must counteract by energizing our partners, expanding the reach of the conservation movement, and finding creative ways to mobilize volunteers where needed. We also need to recruit candidates early and prepare them to run the rigorous campaigns necessary to win. This means enhancing candidate recruitment and training, as well as fostering deeper relationships in communities to identify the next generation of elected conservation champions.
Thankfully, CVSC has the expertise and capacity to meet these challenges. We have a proven track record of bipartisan collaboration in the General Assembly, the policy know-how to develop effective and lasting solutions, a partnerships team capable of strengthening and expanding the conservation movement, and the political skills to elevate community leaders into conservation champions in elected office.
This is our moment to shape South Carolina’s future for the better, and CVSC is ready to lead the way.
The next election cycle starts now— whether it’s the local 2025 races or the statewide contests in 2026. This is our moment to shape South Carolina’s future for the better, and CVSC is ready to lead the way. We’re preparing to make more historic investments that drive bold change. Now is the time to stand together, elevate conservation champions, and lay the groundwork for future election victories. Join us in this fight to protect the air, land, water, and communities that make South Carolina so special.
CVSC 2025 Legislative Priorities
A brand new legislative session begins in January 2025, and the Policy and Government Relations team at CVSC has been working hard on a visionary legislative agenda that builds on our progress over the last two years. South Carolina is the fastest-growing state in the nation, and our 2025 legislative priorities will focus heavily on balancing that rapid development with protecting the South Carolina we love. Our team will be busy this year, and we’ll need your support. Please visit www.cvsc.org/action to learn how you can let your legislators know you care, and watch for future opportunities to
LAND
South Carolina’s beautiful natural landscapes—coupled with all of the economic development coming our way—mean our communities are growing rapidly. Therefore, the way in which local governments plan for that growth will have a profound impact on South Carolina’s air, land, and water. Sustainable growth balances the needs of an expanding population while maintaining our natural resources by directing development to the appropriate places and preventing urban sprawl. In addition to fighting for land protection funding, CVSC will advocate for the tools and resources our state and local governments need to build resilient and sustainable communities.
WATER
South Carolina needs clean and plentiful water—and that is even more important as more large water users want to locate in our state. Luckily, that work has already begun. In 2022, the General Assembly created an Emerging Contaminant Remediation Fund to clean up toxic chemicals from our drinking water. In 2025, we will optimize that fund to ensure the Department of Environmental Services (DES) can continue to test and remediate PFAS contamination across the state. This fall, the Governor established the WaterSC working group, which aims to balance the state’s increasing water demands while maintaining our environment. We are excited to engage in this process to develop policies that protect South Carolina’s water bodies through responsible water management.
ENERGY
More growth means that our state needs to generate more energy. In May of 2024, we successfully stopped dangerous energy legislation that would have tied our state to 50 more years of fossil fuel generation, but we still need to answer the question of how we will meet the energy needs of the future. That work has already begun in the Senate’s Special Committee on South Carolina’s Energy Future, where we have continued to advocate for a clean, affordable, reliable, and resilient energy transition. We expect the Senate to move quickly with energy legislation in early January, and we will continue to work with both chambers to advance a clean energy future for SC.
Energy Rates and Regulations Updates
Electric bills are rising across South Carolina due to rate hike requests from power companies. But customers, including many CVSC advocates, are speaking up, writing to decision-makers, and testifying at hearings.
When Dominion Energy requested a 14.21% rate hike, increased profit margins, and harmful rooftop solar provisions, a large contingent of conservation advocates wrote comments and attended public hearings. Dominion later settled to reduce the increase, lower allowed profits, mitigate harmful rooftop solar impacts, and commit shareholder funds to energy efficiency and low-income assistance. Public pressure from CVSC advocates and our partners drove these improvements forward, resulting in a better deal for South Carolina ratepayers.
State-owned power company Santee Cooper is also raising residential customer bills. Its Board of Directors is currently considering a controversial new rate increase that could result in startlingly high bills for some customers. Santee Cooper customers could also see additional bill hikes soon. Natural gas prices spiked dramatically in 2022, and the current request does not include the cost of buying fuels to burn in coal and gas power plants over the last few years. CVSC is facilitating participation in the decision-making process through public education and media outreach, pushing for greater transparency from Santee Cooper.
As power companies raise rates, it’s important to remember that how we generate energy has an enormous impact on our bills. That issue came to the forefront as Duke Energy presented its plans for the next decade to regulators at the Public Service Commission (PSC). Duke’s commitments to close coal plants and invest in solar, batteries, and wind will help lower costs and benefit the environment. However, several new gas plants in the plan, including one in Anderson County, will further tie us to volatile international gas markets, impacting our bills. CVSC has driven advocacy from ratepayers in support of additional clean energy in Duke territory, and we will continue to rally community members to oppose expensive, polluting gas plants in the future.
The Palmetto Leadership Academy (PLA), an initiative of the CVSC Education Fund, is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of conservation leaders. Our program identifies and educates aspiring public servants on vital environmental issues at both state and local levels. We emphasize the crucial role that local boards and commissions play in safeguarding our health and environment. Through hands-on training, we empower our fellows to pursue appointments to these boards and navigate the complexities of public service effectively.
Our first cohort of the PLA graduated in June. Senator Tameika Isaac Devine joined the fellows at their graduation celebration (pictured below) and offered inspirational remarks regarding public service and the importance of local boards and commissions. Since then, a number of our graduated fellows have applied for service on a local Board or Commission, and one fellow decided to seek election for state legislative office (and won!).
If you’re passionate about conservation and want to make a tangible impact at the state and local levels, we encourage you to apply for our first cohort in 2025!
To learn more, visit cvsc.org/SCPLA.
Green Tie Awards: Celebrating Conservation Leadership
In September, we celebrated our annual Green Tie Awards Luncheon with the achievements of three distinguished honorees dedicated to protecting South Carolina’s environment and enhancing community well-being. Congratulations to our 2024 Green Tie Award winners!
Representative Spencer Wetmore
Green Tie Award for House Conservation Leadership
Paul Black
Harriet Keyserling Green Tie Award for Conservation Advocacy
Rick Huffman
Green Tie Award for Lifetime Conservation Achievement
JADE SPONSORS
EnergyRE
Emerald Sponsors
Arnold M. Nemirow
OceanaGold Haile Gold Mine
OLIVE SPONSORS
Deer Park
Fox Rothschild
Maynard Nexsen
NP Strategy
Nelson Mullins
South Carolina Water Utilities
SAGE SPONSORS
Audubon South Carolina
Builders Supply Company
Coastal Conservation League
Coca-Cola Consolidated
CCM Investment Advisers
Horry County Solid Waste Authority
Scout Motors
Sonoco
Sound and Images
Upstate Forever
Watershed Consulting Group
SPRUCE SPONSORS
Abacus
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Boeing
Francis Marion Hotel
Furman University
Greenville Water
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
McKenna Media
Renewable Water Resources
Robinson Bradshaw
SC Women Lead
Senior Golfers of America
South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development
Southern Environmental Law Center
Spartanburg Water
MINT SPONSORS
Alder Energy Systems
Alliance for Transportation
Electrification
Charleston Climate Coalition
Colite Technologies
Ducks Unlimited
Electrification Coalition
The Gallivan Group
Naturaland Trust
Southeast Sustainability Directors
Network
Sustaining Way
Sustain South Carolina
Timberlake Communications
Upstate Mobility Alliance
WeGOJA Foundation
2024 Impact Insights
1,427 Messages to legislators
31
CVSC-endorsed candidates elected to office
As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to invite you to a series of impactful events focused advancing environmental policy in the General Assembly. Get ready to engage with experts, connect with like-minded advocates, and take action on the most pressing environmental issues facing South Carolina.
58 CVSC-driven news articles and published media
4.7 million Voter contacts
If you haven’t already, join our email list at cvsc.org/signup. We’ll send you official invitations in the coming weeks!
Legislative Preview Webinar Jan 13, 2025 (Virtual) Conservation on Tap Jan 22, 2025 (Greenville)
Kickoff Reception Jan 28, 2025 (Columbia) SC Conservation Coalition Lobby Day & Oyster Roast Feb 25, 2025 (Columbia)
Introducing The Laurel Society
We’re excited to announce the launch of CVSC’s Laurel Society in 2025! This new initiative celebrates the commitment and passion of our most dedicated members for the protection of South Carolina’s air, land, and water. By advancing environmental policy, electing conservation leaders, and maximizing citizen engagement, the Laurel Society unites individuals who prioritize conservation to amplify our collective impact.
Membership in the Laurel Society is available to those who contribute $1,000 or more annually to CVSC, CVSCEF, or CVSC PAC. As a member, you will help build a stronger, more resilient future for conservation in South Carolina while also enjoying benefits, including invitations to special events, insider updates on conservation initiatives, and opportunities to engage directly with policymakers.
Together, we can cultivate a vibrant future for South Carolina’s environment, ensuring our beautiful landscapes and communities thrive for generations to come.
Contact our Director of Major Gifts, Shea Maple, at shea@cvsc.org with questions on how you can join the Laurel Society through your end-of-year gift or 2025 pledge and help make our state’s conservation a priority in 2025 and beyond.
P.O. Box 1766
Columbia, South Carolina 29202
YEAR-END NEWSLETTER | 2024
CVSC STAFF
John Tynan, President
Zach Bjur, Land, Water, Ocean Project Manager
John Brooker, Energy Policy Director
Jalen Brooks-Knepfle, Energy Project Manager
Meagan Diedolf, Senior VP of Policy & Government Relations
Emily Doscher, Digital Engagement Manager
Kate Durand, Communications & Public Relations Director
Heidi Johnson-Young, Community Leadership Project Manager
Alan Lee, Government Relations Manager
Kendra Mallett-Brunson, Senior VP of Collaboration & Impact
Shea Maple, Director of Major Gifts
Tyler Mason, Lowcountry Political Manager
Meredith McNeely, Senior VP of Development & Operations
Tori Oluseyi, Community Leadership Project Manager
Evan Renshaw, Partnerships & Engagement Manager
Erin Siebert, Energy Policy Associate
Tanya Trinh, Land, Water, and Ocean Policy Associate
Katie Welborn Hagan, Senior VP of Political Strategy
