Advocacy

Past Projects

Greenville County Historic & Natural Resources Trust

Upstate Forever joined hundreds of dedicated conservationists to establish, support, and fund this key conservation tool in rapidly growing Greenville County.

Past Projects

The Saluda Grade Rail Trail

Upstate Forever played an important role in the first phase of engaging elected officials, raising acquisition funds, and securing land for a new 30-mile rail trail.

GVL2040 and Greenville Development Code

Our team advocated for important tools to guide the growth of the city over the next two decades: GVL2040 and the GVL Development Code.

Past Projects

Kinder Morgan Pipeline Spill

Upstate Forever, alongside Savannah Riverkeeper and SELC, filed a Clean Water Act suit over a 2014 rupture of Kinder Morgan’s Plantation Pipeline, which spilled over 369,000 gallons of gasoline and polluted local waterways.

Past Projects

Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail

In 1998 we launched a campaign urging Greenville County to acquire a rail line that had recently gone on the market and convert it to a trail through the Rails-to-Trails process.

Electric Vehicle Equity Roundtable

Upstate Forever & Sustaining Way hosted experts, community leaders, and Upstate residents to discuss Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption and equitable mobility options.

Twelve Mile River Restoration

For years, Upstate Forever diligently worked to ensure that the EPA Superfund cleanup of PCBs from the Twelve Mile River was successful.

Greenville Ag Zoning District

UF supported a successful citizen-led movement urging Greenville County Council to establishing an important new tool to preserve farmland — an Agricultural Preservation Zoning District.

Past Projects

Paris Mountain Hotel Opposition

When a developer announced plans to convert sensitive land near the base of Paris Mountain into a resort hotel, we successfully mobilized advocates to speak out in opposition of the project.

Bramlett Road Site Cleanup

We support the effort to ensure a full, comprehensive cleanup of a polluted site in Greenville's Newtown neighborhood.

Past Projects

Duke Transmission Line Victory

Upstate Forever led a successful regional effort to halt Duke Energy’s proposed 45‑mile transmission line through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Past Projects

Keowee-Toxaway Relicensing

Upstate Forever participated in a five‑year FERC relicensing process for Duke Energy’s Keowee‑Toxaway hydroelectric project—securing a new 30‑year license issued in August 2016.