Fort Mill Resident Feels ‘Betrayed’ After Silfab Solar Receives New Permit
FORT MILL, S.C. — People living in Fort Mill are still pushing back against a decision that could bring a solar cell manufacturer to the area.
Hundreds of Fort Mill residents against Silfab Solar felt they had a major victory just weeks ago. They showed up in force to a zoning meeting, and York County decision makers were compelled to deny the light industrial designation that would allow Silfab to produce solar cells at its warehouse on logistics lane.
Jessica Axe can see the back of Silfab’s warehouse from her front yard on Gold Hill Road and says days after that decision,Β Silfab was issued a permit anyway.
“Honestly feel betrayed,” Axe said.
The county has clarified that permit was issued by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The permit allows Silfab Solar to alter the parking lot design and relocate utilities, however the County says it does not allow the construction of a solar cell facility.
Axe is still disappointed as she worries it means the door is not yet closed on Silfab’s move into Fort Mill.
“The air pollution is mostly what we’re worried about, a long with the chemicals that they’re storing inside of the facility,” Axe said when asked why she’s against Silfab.
She is worried solar cell production will be harmful to neighbors. That includes the 600 students who will soon attend the two schools being built behind Silfab’s warehouse.
Silfab Solar denies harmful byproducts of its production.
Not all are against the solar cell manufacturer moving in. Vasant Shankarling is just down the road from where Silfab could be calling home. He would like to hear more facts on Silfab’s production process.
Shankarling says he saves energy with his own solar panels on the roof of his home and he sees benefits to silfab moving in.
“Would rather have it manufactured here in the U.S. where you can follow standards, pay people good wages, and I would rather buy locally,” Shankarling said.
“Silfab Solar has not yet answered questions on receiving a permit from York County. Instead a Silfab representative directed to a web page which claims the company does not create hazardous waste, greenhouse gas, or toxic emissions. That web page can be found here.
