The Upstate Update: March 2019

March 26th, 2019

The Upstate Update is a digital newsletter curated and shared each month that offers insights into Upstate Forever's recent work, highlights upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, and shares other conservation and advocacy news.

We post the Upstate Update here on the Upstate Forever blog each month. If you would like to receive the Upstate Update directly in your email inbox, please sign up for the mailing list.

Overflow crowds at all three Duke rate case hearings

Upstate Forever has partnered with the Southern Environmental Law Center, the NAACP, and the Coastal Conservation League to intervene in Duke Energy's current rate cases.

Duke's proposed tripling of the base facilities charge — the fee you pay before you turn on a single switch — strongly discourages energy efficiency and solar and disproportionately harms the lowest users (usually the elderly and low income customers).

About 1,000 Upstate customers attended the three-night hearings held March 12, 13 and 14 in Spartanburg, Anderson and Greenville.

Also in this month's Upstate Update:

Crossroads has launched!
Our sincere thanks to all who joined us last Tuesday as we celebrated the launch of Crossroads, our $7.5 million campaign to ensure that we grow intelligently while protecting the Upstate's natural character. Thanks to your generosity, we are just $150,000 short of our goal! Learn more about the Crossroads Campaign
Our Land Trust is hiring!
Upstate Forever’s accredited Land Trust is seeking a Land Protection Specialist to work with willing landowners and partners using a variety of conservation tools to permanently protect waterways, natural areas, farmland, and wildlife habitat. Find more details
Additional energy updates
Energy & State Policy Director Shelley Robbins shares updates on net metering for solar power and the Energy Freedom Act. Read the latest news