June 25, 2024 update: York County officials have restated that the Silfab plant can continue construction. The officials reiterate that there is no official zoning issue, and Silfab has completed the appropriate steps to ensure public safety.
Original story below:
Local news outlets are reporting that the zoning board for York County, South Carolina, has reversed its decision to allow Silfab Solar to establish solar cell and panel manufacturing operations in Fort Mill. Silfab had already chosen an existing warehouse off Logistics Lane to outfit with cell and panel assembly manufacturing equipment and was approved to work in the “light industrial” zone. The York County Board of Zoning Appeals voted to change solar manufacturing to only operational in “heavy industrial” zones.
Silfab Solar, a Canadian-headquartered silicon solar panel manufacturer that operates a factory in Burlington, Washington, began looking for a second U.S. manufacturing location over a year ago, with plans to also start solar cell manufacturing. Silfab expected to begin solar cell and panel production in Fort Mill this year, but community pushback has been strong.
Community members have been concerned that Silfab would use harmful chemicals to produce solar panels that would put nearby schools at risk.
In its plans for the 1-GW factory, Silfab said it would bring 800 new jobs to the area while providing $17 million in property taxes to Fort Mill Schools. The company had also started taking steps toward establishing a domestic supply chain, including entering a glass supply agreement with nearby SolarCycle in Georgia and signing a memorandum of understanding to purchase silicon wafers from NorSun’s eventual American factory.
Silfab released a statement:
“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.”
Yes..there is major outcry by residents teachers, and children regarding Silfab And each day the outrage contnues to grow. We will not go away. In your article you stated about $17 million to York City schools via property taxes
First. Silfab in their information kit said in fine print at the bottom of the page They will pay $17 million over 30 years.
Will Silfab be here in 30 years?
And Silfab will not pay property taxes.
The York Council voted in August 2023,Silfab will received a 4% Filot
Fee instead of property tax.
And Silfab was negotiating with York Council this incentive for a long period of time.
In terms of 800 jobs , as I understand only 128 jobs wil be created in the first year.
And salaries will be minimum wage or less
You cannot rent or buy a house in Fort Mill on minimum wages. Fort.Mill is an urban area that continues to grow as noted in national magazines.
And read the Light Industrai code of ordinance of SC that will clearly explain
why the ZBA voted 5 – 0 against Silfab Solar manufacturing.
Please check my facts vs those of the your article..thank you.
I was at both hearings and cannot believe that our council did not put an order to stop production right away! This was a decision made out of pure greed! There are plenty of places in South Carolina for this to go! Fort mill is not one of them! A toxic chemical plant next to two schools .. outrageous! We will not back down! They better start realizing that.. I want to know where is the school board on this? They are putting money over children! Horrendous!
Please be wise in your choice of locations. There are locations 15 – 20 miles south of where with little to no housing and is zoned Industrial that is a perfect fit for you if you are dead set on being in SC, but the location in Fort Mill, SC you want to manufacture in, is absolutely not the right place. There is plenty of wooded land in Canada for you to manufacture in, which is a bit closer to home.
After the successful vote, I hear they’ve now broken ground?! How can that be? Who or what entity can overrule the 5-0 vote? I would suggest we get a lawyer and establish a GoFundMe page for legal contributions until this is resolved. We may be able to at least get a preliminary injunction.
Silfab is ruining our community. They lied from the beginning to get in to our town. In states like TX and LA, Silane is piped in because it is so dangerous. The town of Fort Mill, York County, Fort Mill School District and many politicians are not helping the citizens. Lives, health and property value will be ruined. Why is an area that is residential and 1300 feet from a school and 600 feet from a playground selected? Who is benefiting? The town rallied together at the rezoning meeting and it was 5-0 against Silfab. Three days later, they were getting permits. After given many incentives from the government and state, there is obviously more involved in this. Greedy people are overlooking the health and safety of our community. How can something that is so “green” and “environmental” so dangerous to so many? Silfab, go away! Go back to your own country and manufacture this poison!
Silfab will ruin Fort Mill. Find somewhere RURAL to manufacture. It is HEAVY industrial and the only reason it would be allowed is pure GREED. We will continue to fight until you lose.
We do not want this plant in the area they have chosen in our community. This is located right next to where they are building two of our community schools. Other manufacturing plants of this nature are almost always in heavy industrial area zone planning locations but was a first trying to be pushed through as light industrial. The community is now aware and is speaking up!
The harmful chemicals not named in this article are all Category 3, the most toxic to humanity, animals and environment: Silane, which will explode if exposed to air; Hydrofluoric acid will kill if breathed or if it touches the skin; Hydrochloric acid, which produces poisonous gas in a fire; Toluene, which can cause death if exposed to small amounts through breathing. All of these chemicals are toxic, flammable, combustible if exposed to a spark and will cause death or chronic illness if breathed or if they touch a person’s skin in small amounts. Hazardous chemicals are always involved in the utilization and storage of solar cell/solar panel manufacturing and the waste of them, after being treated by acid scrubbers, is emitted from an acid scrubber tower into the air. In the Fort Mill, Silfab Solar manufacturing plant location (rented by Silfab, not owned), those chemicals would be stored in tanks tens-of-thousands of gallons, with a hazmat truck coming in daily for chemical transfer. Just 1500 feet away from the Silfab building in Fort Mill two schools are being built, with the football field being 800 feet away and the building is surrounded by housing developments, shopping malls, retirement communities, hospitals, etc, with at least 2000 households within the 1-mile evacuation zone (in case of explosion or fire at the plant). SIlfab literally picked a distribution building in the middle of an established suburb for its operation and, when it was first presented to the County Commission, the commission board members heard nothing about Category 3 chemicals. Solar cell and panel manufacturing is one of the most hazardous types of manufacturing there is – that is why all the workers (who are usually paid just barely over minimum wage) must wear hazmat suits while working. It involves air emissions and millions-of-gallons of water daily to dilute the chemicals, water that is ultimately being treated and ending up in ground water, streams and rivers. Any solar cell/solar panel manufacturing plant (not assembly – manufacturing) belongs in a ‘Heavy Industrial’ zoning district, preferably where there are few buildings of any type nearby in event of explosion.
Silfab needs to find a new location that allows for heavy industrial. Next door to an elementary school & middle school and residential communities is no place for a smoke stack of pollutants and level 3 hazardous chemicals being housed and driving deliveries on the roads! Sumter SC and Orangeburg also have plans for solar manufacturing plants, but both are in heavy industrial and rural zones like they are supposed to be!
There is an elementary school in the backyard of where this plant would be established. Silfab originally secured the location under the expectation they would be assembling solar panels, not manufacturing them. Our community did rally together to keep our community safe. Not to mention, the area cannot handle the increased traffic that would inevitably result from this plant. This is a residential area. We care about our community, and we are proud of the way we were able to show up.