When Volvo set out to build a 1.5 million-square-foot manufacturing facility in the southeastern U.S., South Carolina and several surrounding states competed for the massive $5 billion investment. The project promised significant economic benefits, including thousands of jobs and long-term business growth.
South Carolina first proposed a site that had already made substantial progress in permitting, making it an early contender. However, when Volvo overlaid its design and future buildout plans onto the site, it became clear that the site was too small to accommodate the entire vision.
Around the same time, a competing site in Georgia happened to match Volvo’s needs perfectly. Although Volvo was considering the Georgia site, South Carolina still had a chance to win the investment – if it could propose an alternative site that was large enough and wouldn’t delay the project timeline.
Enter the Camp Hall site in Berkeley County, SC. Strategically located and adequately sized, it was ideal for Volvo’s long-term vision. Time was running out. Volvo needed to complete permitting quickly to meet its internal deadlines and proceed with the project.
RES Provides a Path Forward
Recognizing the urgency and importance, the State of South Carolina and the Department of Commerce turned to RES for a fast, scalable solution. RES is committed to delivering a full permittee-responsible mitigation (PRM) strategy to meet Volvo's environmental requirements within the tight timeframe. Not only did RES deliver—they did it faster than expected. Without a clear compensatory mitigation plan, the project would likely have faced permitting delays and increased costs, potentially disqualifying it from selection.
A Landscape-Scale Mitigation Solution for Volvo
RES leveraged its permittee-responsible mitigation (PRM) expertise and robust internal resources to develop a best-in-class solution in an incredibly time-efficient manner. This ensured Volvo met its environmental compliance requirements without delaying the project timeline. Instead of relying on a single mitigation site, RES implemented a landscape-scale conservation strategy, focusing on restoring and preserving critical environmental resources across multiple properties.
This approach provided a watershed-scale solution that offset the Volvo facility's environmental impacts and strengthened South Carolina’s conservation network.
Key elements of the plan included:
- Strategic Land Conservation: RES secured and preserved six key tracts of land totaling just under 2,500 acres, strategically expanding the region’s protected areas and preventing unchecked development.
- Wetland and Stream Restoration: The plan enhanced 860 acres and preserved 965 acres of wetlands, as well as over 76,000 feet of coastal region streams, thereby enhancing water quality and ecosystem resilience.
- Native Longleaf Pine Restoration: Previously degraded timberland was transformed, replacing commercial loblolly pine monoculture with native longleaf pine savannas, restoring vital fire-adapted ecosystems.
- Habitat Connectivity & Greenbelt Expansion: By linking conservation easements with existing protected lands (Francis Marion National Forest, ACE Basin, and Audubon Swamp), the project reinforced a greenbelt around the Charleston region, ensuring the protection of critical habitats from the unintended consequences of urban sprawl.
- Prescribed Fire & Ecological Uplift: Controlled burns reintroduced natural fire cycles, enabling native, fire-adapted plant and animal species to thrive.
- Local Partnerships & Long-Term Stewardship: RES incorporated local expertise by engaging subconsultants to assist with permitting, design, monitoring, and maintenance activities. The conservation easements held by the Lowcountry Land Trust, a trusted local organization, were transitioned into long-term conservation stewardship for two significant properties. The Dean Swamp property was donated to Audubon, while the Bannister tract is being deeded to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
By implementing these measures, RES eliminated the uncertainty that had initially led Volvo to consider Georgia, ensuring that South Carolina remained an attractive and environmentally responsible choice for the automaker.
The Winning Outcome
With a clear and executable mitigation plan in place, the State of South Carolina and the Department of Commerce successfully secured Volvo’s investment. The project moved forward without permitting delays, and today, the Volvo manufacturing plant operates outside Charleston, SC, along Interstate 26.
Key Takeaways for Large-Scale Developers
- Mitigation can make or break a project – Environmental permitting challenges can derail even the most promising opportunities. A strong mitigation strategy ensures projects remain viable and timelines remain intact.
- Early engagement with experts is critical – If South Carolina had delayed its work with RES, Volvo may have chosen another location. Early alignment on mitigation ensures momentum and reduces risk.
- PRM solutions offer flexibility for complex projects – When off-the-shelf mitigation options fall short, a custom permittee-responsible mitigation (PRM) approach can deliver scale, compliance, and speed.
- A clear path to permitting attracts investment and accelerates execution – Certainty and speed are essential whether you’re building a data center, utility corridor, or industrial facility. A proactive mitigation plan gives regulators and investors confidence to move forward.
Final Thoughts
This project demonstrates how environmental mitigation can be a strategic advantage. By partnering with RES, South Carolina transformed a regulatory challenge into a successful outcome, proving that the right mitigation strategy, backed by long-term stewardship and local partnerships, can help any large-scale project stay on track.
Connect with RES today if you're facing permitting uncertainty or site readiness issues. The right mitigation plan could be the key to unlocking your next big project.
