FORT MILL, S.C. — Fort Mill residents, local school leaders and state lawmakers are calling on South Carolina’s governor to stop Silfab Solar from restarting its use of chemicals at its local facility.
In documents submitted to the state, the solar panel manufacturer reported plans to resume commissioning activities involving gases and chemicals as early as Oct. 19, with expectations to be ready for full production by November.
The facility is located near two local schools. The demand for state intervention comes after two chemical leaks occurred at the plant in March, forcing a nearby elementary school to close for several days and interrupting classroom activities.
School district leaders are demanding a full state review before any chemical shipments or operations resume at the site.
South Carolina. Rep. David Martin sent a letter to the governor and state attorney general requesting immediate state intervention before chemical operations resume.
“I disagree that they have fully done all of those things that they mentioned in their third-party report,” Martin said. “There’s also safety concerns that I have before they get started with the manufacturing of the chemicals or the chemical manufacturing.”
Martin urged state authorities to halt operations through executive action. “I think at this point we need some type of executive order,” Martin said. “I’ve pushed for the Attorney General’s office. I’ve pushed for the Department of Environmental Services. I’ve pushed for every agency possible to get involved to help the people of Fort Mill.”
Fort Mill Schools confirmed in a statement that the school district has joined Martin in asking state officials for help.
Silfab included its proposed timeline in its response to a third-party engineering evaluation of the facility’s chemical processes and leak-prevention systems.
State authorities ordered the independent review following the safety incidents earlier in the year. Silfab has stated that the surrounding community was never in danger during the prior leaks.
Local residents expressed strong frustration over the company’s planned timeline to resume chemical use. Scott Jensen, a Fort Mill neighbor, voiced opposition to the proposal.
“I’m disgusted,” Jensen said, noting that residents are mobilizing across multiple levels of government. “I mean, we’re contacting everybody. We’re re-engaging the attorney general, the governor.”
Other area residents urged nearby neighborhoods to take action as well. “Do your research,” a Fort Mill neighbor said. “We need the whole community to rise up in this hour.”
The plant also remains at the center of ongoing legal disputes regarding local land use regulations. In August, a judge rejected a zoning appeal from Silfab, ruling that solar panel manufacturing is prohibited in light industrial districts like the one where the plant is located.
Silfab has appealed the zoning decision, while residents have long sought to prevent the facility from operating there.
A spokesperson for the governor stated that the office has received the letter from lawmakers and school leaders and is currently discussing the matter.
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