News & Media

The six-acre property home to the historic Soapstone Baptist Church in Pickens County has been permanently protected through a conservation easement. In addition to the church’s leadership, partners instrumental in this important conservation project include the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Upstate Forever, and the Upstate Land Conservation Fund. read more

On Tuesday, South Carolina’s Public Service Commission approved Duke Energy Carolinas’ request to raise utility bills by 10.4%—more than $12 per month for a typical residential customer—to cover skyrocketing fossil fuel costs. read more

A coalition of nonprofits in North Carolina and South Carolina are working together to purchase the inactive Saluda Grade railroad corridor for a new approximately 31-mile rail trail. read more

The Anderson County Watershed Protection Council is seeking grant applications for projects that will protect or restore water quality in Anderson County, as well as nearby portions of the Savannah River watershed. read more

We are excited to host the annual ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon on Monday, June 13th, 2022, at the Embassy Suites on Verdae Boulevard. This luncheon celebrates individuals for significant contributions in fields related to conservation and sustainable growth. read more

South Carolina’s Public Service Commission voted this week to deny Duke Energy’s petition to reconsider its application for a solar program that was expected to save South Carolinians $18 million. On behalf of Upstate Forever and 4 additional regional conservation organizations, the Southern Environmental Law Center supported Duke’s request for reconsideration of its application for a program called “Smart $aver Solar as Energy Efficiency.” read more

Our nationally accredited land trust protected approximately 3,600 acres of private and public forests, farmlands, and green spaces across Upstate South Carolina in 2021. Partner projects where Upstate Forever was integral to the effort’s success comprise nearly 900 additional acres. read more

Four homeowners’ associations and three conservation organizations, including Upstate Forever, have asked the governing Board of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to review and rescind a septic tank permit issued by the DHEC staff for a proposed Recreational Vehicle (RV) park on Landrum Mill Road in Campobello, South Carolina. read more