UPDATE 5/22/2024:
Fort Mill residents are now concerned of the continued presence of Silfab Solar after a utilities permit was granted 3 working days after the company’s zoning approval was voted down by the BZA.
Here is a copy of the permit in question:
Silfab also released a press release dated May 20th (11 days after the council voted against them), in which they state the following (here’s a saved pdf version of the article):
“…Silfab’s main N-type cell manufacturing at its new South Carolina facility.”
“Silfab’s newest factory in South Carolina will soon add 1 gigawatt American-made cell production and another 1.3 gigawatts of module production.”
“Silfab operates state-of-the-art facilities in the state of Washington and Toronto, Canada and will soon be manufacturing solar cells and PV modules in Fort Mill, South Carolina.”
Fort Mill residents are now concerned that the company will somehow be able to continue building the factory even after the BZA voted that solar panel manufacturing is not allowed in light industrial zoned properties.
UPDATE 5/10/2024: Over 300 Fort Mill residents attended a lengthy meeting at the York County Government Center on Thursday evening that lasted until just after 10:30pm. After hearing comments from over 50 residents, the York County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously that solar panel manufacturing is not allowed in light industrial zoned properties.
The decision was based on ambiguities in the county code. The crowd filled the main lobby and two overflow rooms during the highly anticipated meeting.
Silfab released the following statement after the decision by the board:
“Silfab Solar is disappointed in the York County board of zoning appeals decision of May 9. We are reviewing the community comments from the public forum and are waiting for an official letter of determination. This was not a final determination, and we are exploring the various options that will lead to a resolution.”
Here is a video from Queen City News about last night’s meeting:
ORIGINAL ARTICLE 5/6/2024:
A growing number of Fort Mill residents are raising concerns about the environmental and health impacts of a proposed solar manufacturing plant by Canada’s Silfab Solar.
The company has announced a $150 million investment plan to start manufacturing solar panels. The new facility is expected to generate hundreds of new jobs, offering a starting wage of $19 per hour for hourly workers and an annual salary of $60,000 for salaried employees, along with comprehensive benefits.
“Domestic production of solar cells represents a strategic opportunity to manage our own U.S. supply chain and bring cell manufacturing to the U.S.,” the company told The Post and Courier. “Currently cells are primarily manufactured in China and we are happy to start this production in the U.S.”
An increasing number of Fort Mill residents are protesting the facility, however, due to the plant’s use of high quantities of several chemicals.
According to South Carolina’s DHEC, these are some of the chemicals that would be used at the new plant:
- Toluene: The plant plans to use 132 gallons per year of Toluene, a DHEC Category 3 pollutant, which is the most hazardous class.
- Hydrogen Fluoride (HF): The plant plans on storing 15,850 gallons of Hydrogen Fluoride in two tanks, with weekly refills. HF is classified as a DHEC Category 3 pollutant. The release of HF, even below the concentration limit, requires a mandatory ½ mile evacuation.
- Silane: The plant would use a 22,983-pound tank filled with this chemical. Silane is a highly flammable and toxic gas that could explode on contact with air.
This is Silane being exposed to air:
The plant’s proximity to two new schools off Gold Hill Road raises concerns, with an emergency protocol suggesting a minimum one-mile evacuation radius.
York County Council member Debi Cloninger did an interview with the Fort Mill Sun where she noted that four engineers investigated Silfab’s application with DHEC and found disturbing information.
“My greatest concerns are the 2,000 students who are only 1,300 feet away from these hazardous chemicals,” Cloninger told the local outlet.
This coming week, York County will be discussing the zoning decision of solar panel manufacturing in light industrial.
The Board of Zoning Appeals will be meeting this coming Thursday, May 9 at 6:00 PM at 6 S. Congress Street in York discuss the approval of the Silfab plant.
Those against the new facility are asking for people to come to the meeting to voice their opposition.
There is also a growing online petition against the new facility.
