Environment + Sustainability
Protecting Our Land and Water | Clean Energy
Why it Matters
From Charleston’s sunny harbor to the region’s winding rivers, tidal creeks, wide sandy beaches, lush marshlands, and maritime forests, the Lowcountry’s lands and waterways sustain us—living testaments to why a growing number of people call this region home and why visitors continue to chose the Charleston region as a preferred destination. Locals know the secret to thriving here is to slow down, move past what man has done, and let nature provide, teach, and inspire. On the flats off Crab Bank, you can net menhaden in the morning or hook a redfish by afternoon. On Kiawah's Ocean Course, you might pause mid-round to watch two ospreys engaged in an airborne fight over a plump mullet.
​
The region’s lands and waterways are our enduring “why,” making the thoughtful stewardship of this singular coastal landscape a top priority for future generations. As rapid population growth places increasing pressure on these resources, balancing meaningful conservation with a strong economy and the needs of a growing community remains a complex challenge—one that calls for responsible leadership, strong public-private collaboration, and innovative approaches to critical issues like clean energy and land use.
Clean Energy
Clean energy is shaping the way we think about our region and the way the world thinks about us.
In North Charleston, a Clemson University facility boasts the world’s most advanced Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing facility, where research is shaping how the world will harness wind power in coming decades.
On the solar energy front, a 2024 study indicates solar energy has the potential to become a multi-billion-dollar industry in South Carolina, generating jobs, income, and the additional energy needed to meet the needs of a growing population base with minimal land use. The primary source of energy in the U.S., natural gas offers yet another opportunity to harness a cleaner fuel that’s a better alternative to coal for both large industrial and commercial and residential applications, and we could benefit from a regional natural gas pipeline that brings the low-cost, high-quality clean energy to our area.
Protecting Our Land + Water
“Conservation is the state of harmony between men and land.” —Aldo Leopold
Without question, clean water and open land drive our affection for this majestic place, making conservation not just a priority but a necessity. So, how do we accommodate the region’s rapid population growth without sacrificing quality of life? How do we maintain a strong economy, build sustainable communities, and safeguard our natural resources, local farms, and unique coastal landscapes?
​
Many solutions are already in place. Protected areas like the ACE Basin, one of the largest relatively undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast, are made possible through the collaboration of private landowners, conservation organizations, and federal and state agencies. Locally, we are blessed with more than one dozen public-private land trust partnerships, including Lowcountry Land Trust, who are working to preserve open space in both urban and rural areas throughout our region. These organizations utilize landowner-led conservation easements but also raise funding to purchase development rights or land titles when available. The Charleston County Parklands Foundation, which controls thousands of acres of land and water access for public enjoyment, is another organization making a huge impact.
​
Additionally, planning for new developments should also include open space, tree, and wetland requirements to meet our citizens’ quality of life needs. We believe these strategies provide the fairest approach to landowners and the public. Open space and land preservation benefits us all, and, for that reason, the public should help pay for it, and whenever possible, landowners should be compensated for their key role in land preservation.