Silfab Solar welcomes the opportunity for the new school to be built near its facility. When the company moved into the light industrial zone, schools were not allowed to be built in these zones. There was a decision by York County Council to rezone our area to allow a school to be built. Our other facilities are next to bodies of water and in the middle of urban areas. Our safety protocols have kept environments and the people around our facility safe.

Additional Documentation:

• School Parcel History
• January 9, 2023, York County Planning Commission initiates application to re-zone the property at 278 Gold Hill Road from LI to OI. Meeting Minutes
• March 20, 2023, York County Council approves rezoning from LI to OI (3rd Reading) Meeting Minutes

Silfab Solar uses certain materials to assemble and clean products. The company has taken best in class steps to reduce any risk to our employees, their families and neighboring communities. Materials used during our assembly processes can all be found in household products. For instance hydrochloric acid is used for food processing i.e. soft drinks, cookies, ketchup and cereals. Hydroflouric acid is used in everyday pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Silane is used to develop smartphones, laptops and cars.

The Local Emergency Planning Committee, York County Office of Emergency Management, Flint Hill Fire Department and the EPA are a part of our planning to ensure that all parties are prepared for any type of unlikely event that may require a response.

York County reaffirmed that our operations are light industrial in a statement on June 25, 2024 stating “As a verification by York County staff, and outside of and independent from any action by York County Council, the letter confirmed for Silfab that solar panel manufacturing is allowed in the light industrial zoning district.” York County also noted that the Board of Zoning Appeals decision from May 9, 2024 does NOT apply to Silfab Solar and only applies to future projects.

Click here to see how Silfab Solar meets all the criteria for Light Industrial zoning.

No, the water we use will undergo two treatment cycles from our permitted water purification system before it is released. Next, the City of Rock Hill will do an additional cleanse in its sanitary sewer facility before releasing the water.

Additionally, Silfab Solar will utilize a certified third party to test discharged wastewater periodically ensuring the quality exceeds federal and local standards.

The Silfab Solar assembly process will be contained inside our main building. To ensure the air we disperse outside is clean, we will be installing a wet scrubber on the side of the building. This is NOT a smokestack. This scrubber removes nearly all emissions, far exceeding South Carolina emission standards. The result of the cleaning process is steam, or water vapor, that will be released outside. This process far exceeds South Carolina emission standards. Residents will only see this steam during the winter months as temperatures cool outside. In early designs submitted to DHEC, this wet scrubber was designed to be on the top of the main building standing at a height of 70ft. Silfab Solar revised its design and the scrubber will now be placed on the side of the building rising to a height equal to that of the building – 50ft. We informed DHEC (now the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services - SCDES) of this design change on May 17th, 2024. On July 31, 2024 SCDES approved the new height.