Local news broadcasts 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 in Fort Mill. Silfab had already selected an existing warehouse at Logistics Lane to equip with production equipment for cell and panel assembly and was given permission to operate in the “light industrial” zone. The York County Board of Zoning Appeals voted to make solar energy production operational only in “heavy industrial” zones.
Silfab Solar, a manufacturer of silicon solar panels headquartered in Canada with a factory in Burlington, Washington, began looking for a second manufacturing site in the US over a year ago, with plans to also begin manufacturing solar cells. Silfab expected to begin manufacturing solar cells and panels in Fort Mill this year, but community resistance has been strong.
Community members are concerned that Silfab might use “harmful chemicals” to produce solar panels that would endanger nearby schools.
In his plans for the 1-GW factorySilfab said it would bring 800 new jobs to the area while providing $17 million in property tax relief to Fort Mill Schools. The company had also begun taking steps toward establishing a domestic supply chain, including inking a glass supply deal with nearby SolarCycle in Georgia and signing a memorandum of understanding to purchase silicon wafers from the eventual U.S. factory from NorSun.
Silfab has not yet announced its next steps.
