Press Center
To reach media contacts across SELC states and programs, check out our press room.
Seabed mining in Virginia’s federal waters would threaten coastal communities, resources
SELC opposes exploitation of public resource for private gain WASHINGTON — Today, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced it is considering opening federal waters off the Virginia coast to seabed mining. This announcement comes after...
Groups take legal action against Spartanburg data center
Petitions say ongoing construction at Valara data center lacks key approval COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Concerned Citizens of Spartanburg County and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy,...
Groups sue Alpek-Eastman plant for polluting Congaree River with microplastics and other toxic chemicals
Pollution from the chemical plant litters miles along Congaree National Park, the suit alleges COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today, Congaree Riverkeeper, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, filed a citizen suit in federal...
Clean energy groups challenge utility commission cancellation of N.C. solar development
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a motion for preliminary injunction today in Wake County Superior Court and challenged the N.C. Utilities Commission’s order halting North Carolina’s 2026solar and storage procurement process as unconstitutional. At a time of escalating energy costs and demand, the 2026 solar procurement would improve affordability and reliability for North Carolinians who buy...
Virginia Budget Proposals Fail to Address Data Center Threats
RICHMOND, Va. — House and Senate lawmakers have introduced new competing proposals for Virginia’s biennial budget that starts on July 1—both of which unfortunately fall short when it comes to reining in the impacts...
Groups sue to stop Robeson County, N.C, landfill’s PFAS pollution of drinking water system for 67,000 people
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—On behalf of St. Pauls Community Association for Progress, the Southern Environmental Law Center today filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina against Robeson...
Trump administration attempts massive power grab in defense of Musk’s xAI
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — Late yesterday, while intervening to support Elon Musk’s company, xAI, in a Clean Air Act lawsuit the NAACP brought against the company, the U.S. Department of Justice argued that xAI...
Alabama rock quarry commits to changes, relief for community in settlement with SELC
BELLE MINA, Ala. -- Four Belle Mina churches and community members, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), resolved their lawsuit against a controversial limestone quarry. The quarry landowners and operator, Grayson Carter &...
Polluter-written PFAS and 1,4-dioxane rules without pollution reduction are unethical, SELC says to N.C. Commission
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Proposed polluter-written rules regarding PFAS and 1,4-dioxane do not require polluters to reduce toxic discharges into drinking water supplies relied on by families and communities across North Carolina, the Southern Environmental...
Federal court rules EPA grant terminations were illegal
CHARLESTON – In a decision issued today, South Carolina’s federal district court ruled today that EPA’s decision last spring to terminate the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program was illegal and vacates the agency’s decision, requiring EPA to implement the $2.8 billion program. The Southern...