Silfab Solar, a Canadian solar panel manufacturer, kept controversy alive for years after construction was announced. Silfab builds a solar cell production hub in Fort Mill, several hundred feet from two blossoming schools. After two years, the controversy hasn’t died down.
It’s a long saga. There are reports of Fort Mill families leaving because of it. There are protests and lawsuits. All of this distracts from the point: York County appears to be choosing business interests over the safety of residents.
In 2023, county officials said solar cell manufacturing was allowed in areas zoned as ‘light industrial,’ which gave the green light to Silfab to obtain permits and begin construction at the site. They also gave Silfab an incentive package that included a 4% tax rate incentive for 30 years and a $2 million state economic development grant…