Silfab Solar’s solar panel manufacturing facility is located next to two schools at 7149 Logistics Lane in Fort Mill, SC. Why did Silfab do this?
Written by Timothy J. Hegarty, A Concerned Citizen of York County:
There has always been a fundamental question lurking in the background of the Move Silfab campaign that has gone unanswered all this time. As an active supporter of this campaign, I can recall that this question was considered very early on in the group and has been asked repeatedly throughout this journey. That question is “Why 7149 Logistics Lane in the Town of Fort Mill?” Why this location? We will come back to this question.
In addition, we learned very early on that the location was zoned Light Industrial, which did not permit the proposed solar cell manufacturing use. Therefore, we chose to focus on the unlawful use presented by this zoning issue.
Supporters of Silfab Solar at its proposed location, 7149 Logistics Lane, have consistently attempted to claim that the Move Silfab campaign is composed of anti-development, anti-Green Energy, anti-solar, anti-Silfab, NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) radicals who are spewing lies to the public.
Anyone, even remotely aware of the facts behind the Move Silfab campaign, understands the truth, but to ensure full disclosure, I provide the following:
- At its very inception, this group created a website called Stop Silfab to provide community awareness. The website name attached itself to the movement. Supporters quickly realized that Stop Silfab was an inaccurate and confusing name because it did not accurately reflect the fact that we did not oppose the intended USE, we opposed the LOCATION chosen for that use. Hence, the campaign’s website and associated name were changed to Move Silfab to accurately reflect the mission and purpose.
- We have consistently stated that we are pro-growth and support Green Energy initiatives that bring good jobs to the community, but we also recognize the importance of observing Zoning regulations to ensure such growth is balanced and benefits the community through compatible neighboring uses.
- Yes, we oppose the LOCATION, but that does not make it a NIMBY decision. We would not support it in any location that is not properly zoned for a Heavy Industrial facility using chemical processes. It needs to be in a location that has been designated for such use, not shoehorned into a location adjacent to two schools, within a 3-mile population of over 53,000 people, and absolutely incompatible with surrounding property uses.
Having established that the MOVE SILFAB campaign is not, and never has been, intended to stop solar development within York County, we can now revisit the fundamental question asked in the opening paragraph: Why 7149 Logistics Lane?
For those who may not be aware, 7149 Logistics Lane was originally purpose-built as a distribution warehouse. There were many obstacles to overcome to use it for solar cell manufacturing:
- Extensive remodeling of the approx. 800,000 SF warehouse, both interior and exterior
- The construction of additional buildings and bunkers on site to house huge quantities of toxic and explosive chemicals (also not allowed per the existing zoning)
- Height restrictions limiting exhaust stack size for releasing massive quantities of acid scrubbed air back into the environment
- Incompatibility with neighboring property uses of schools, residential, and warehousing
- Community concerns ignored by both the County and Silfab
- Danger to the community from environmentally hazardous pollution released 24/7/365
- Danger to the community from accidental spills, explosions, unintended toxic gas release, and fire despite safety measures required to be in place
- The Light Industrial (LI) zoning does not allow for the intended use
- Plus, the fact that there were, and are, numerous other options within York County to accommodate such a Heavy Industrial use
So why did it have to be this location? I know the usual answer to such a question is “follow the money.” Unfortunately, we do not have the resources or expertise to do that. We hope that someone who does will take on that challenge.
When you think about it, it truly is a fundamental question that remains unanswered. The County and Silfab were not just determined to bring solar cell manufacturing to York County. They INSISTED that it be that specific location with all its challenges, including Zoning, despite the fact that numerous other properly Zoned locations existed and offered the option of being purpose-built for solar cell manufacturing rather than being crammed into a building not designed or built for that purpose in a site not zoned for that use. Why?
The Move Silfab campaign has exhausted all administrative efforts with the County to correct this mistake. It is now up to the Judicial system to address this unlawful violation of York County zoning regulations and unconstitutional violation of citizens’ rights to health, safety, and general wellbeing. I can only say that a full reading of the facts of this case, along with a fair and impartial hearing of the truth, can only result in one ruling: Move Silfab. Even then, we may never know the answer to that fundamental question of “Why 7149 Logistics Lane?”.
Respectfully,
Timothy J. Hegarty
Fort Mill, York County, SC resident
Proud American
SCPIF is not directly affiliated with any litigation of this issue