YORK COUNTY, S.C. — A South Carolina judge has denied a request by a neighborhood group to lift a stay on its lawsuit against Silfab Solar.
The lawsuit, filed nearly two years ago by the Citizens Alliance for Government Integrity, challenges the solar panel manufacturing facility currently operating in York County.
The legal dispute stems from a decision by the York County Board of Zoning Appeals, which ruled that solar panel manufacturing was not a proper use for the property site.
A judge previously placed the neighborhood group’s lawsuit on hold pending Silfab Solar’s appeal of that zoning ruling.
Although a judge affirmed the zoning decision in July, the court declined to reopen the original lawsuit.
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Andy Lytle serves as president of the Citizens Alliance for Government Integrity. Lytle expressed frustration over the length of the legal dispute following the decision. “The citizens have been trying to get a day in court for two years,” Lytle said.
The lawsuit initially sought to stop the facility from opening before construction concluded. “The initial request was to revoke the construction permits,” Lytle said.
He added that the plant has since completed construction and entered active service during the prolonged legal battle.
“How much does it take for a citizen to get hurt in South Carolina? What does it take? There’s been two years of time, and when we started this, SILFAB was in construction. They’re in operation now,” Lytle said.
Silfab Solar defended its legal standing following the court decision.
A spokesperson for Silfab Solar stated, “Silfab is confident in its position on the merits of our case, and we find CAGI’s lawsuit to be baseless. With that said, we concur with the judge’s ruling that the CAGI lawsuit should remain stayed.”
Beyond the zoning dispute, the Citizens Alliance for Government Integrity has sought a restraining order to block the plant from using what the group describes as hazardous and toxic chemicals.
The legal filing follows an incident in March when two chemical leaks forced Silfab Solar to suspend all plant operations temporarily.
A nearby elementary school closed for several days following the chemical incidents. Silfab Solar stated that the surrounding community was never at risk.
Attorneys for the Citizens Alliance for Government Integrity plan to file another appeal regarding the stayed lawsuit.
If the case is reopened, the neighborhood group plans to ask the judge to remove Solar’s certificate of occupancy.