Press Releases
SELC applauds U.S. Forest Service proposal that would provide historic protections for nation’s old growth
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Today, the U.S. Forest Service announced a groundbreaking proposal to increase protections for old-growth forests on public lands. The move marks a significant shift in how the agency manages old-growth forests, which...
Commission approves Duke Energy Carolinas rate increase and low-income affordability programs
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Following an order late Friday from the North Carolina Utilities Commission, regulated monopoly Duke Energy Carolinas will raise rates for customers for three years, boost profits for shareholders, and spend hundreds of millions,...
SC agency strengthens public transparency around industrial PFAS pollution
New permit process requires polluters to disclose toxic PFAS and 1,4-dioxane discharges into waterways CHARLESTON, S.C. — This fall, after extensive public advocacy by the Southern Environmental Law Center and other groups, South Carolina’s Department...
SELC announces finalists for the 2024 Phil Reed Environmental Writing Award
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) announced the finalists for the 2024 Phillip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award today. The work of this year’s finalists explores a wide array of environmental topics,...
Groups challenge South Carolina agency’s illegal rules for major water withdrawals
Loophole allows removal of all water from rivers, harming wildlife, communities, and businesses CHARLESTON, S.C. — Today, the Southern Environmental Law Center filed a challenge to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s...
New methane safeguards will cut climate pollution and protect communities
Federal action comes as Southern utilities are pushing for a massive investment in methane gas that will worsen climate crisis CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Today the Biden Administration released a new rule, expected to be the...
Groups applaud new federal rule creating unified standard for transportation climate pollution
WASHINGTON — A new Federal Highway Administration rule will unify the way State departments of transportation (state DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) track climate-changing transportation pollution. This commonsense approach enhances the existing tools transportation...
SELC statement on EPD permitting Plant Hammond’s coal ash closure plan
ATLANTA— Today Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division issued final permits to close Georgia Power’s Plant Hammond Ash Pond 3 in Floyd County. The state issued permit calls for capping more than 1 million tons of toxic...
Commission approves Dominion Energy plans to double down on fossil fuels in long term plan
Utility’s resource plan includes major new gas plant COLUMBIA, S.C. — This week, in a 6-1 vote, the South Carolina Public Service Commission approved Dominion Energy South Carolina’s long range power plans (its Integrated Resource...
SC agency violated Clean Water Act by proposing toxic discharge permit, groups say
Pollution could reach drinking water sources for nearly 300,000 South Carolinians CHARLESTON, S.C. — In late October, the Southern Environmental Law Center petitioned the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control to reverse...