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Residents and engineers urge council to block solar panel manufacturer near schools, citing chemical risks
Summary
During the public forum at the June 2 York County Council meeting, several residents and retired engineers urged council to stop construction of a Silfab (referred to as DILFAB/CILFAB in some testimony) solar panel manufacturing plant near schools, citing potential hazardous chemicals (silane, hydrofluoric acid) and zoning concerns.
Several public commenters at the June 2 York County Council meeting urged elected officials to halt construction and permit activity for a proposed solar panel manufacturing facility (referred to in testimony as Silfab / DILFAB / CILFAB) near Fort Mill-area schools, arguing the proposed use involves hazardous, pyrophoric chemicals and alleged zoning irregularities.
Frank Jernak, a retired engineer with decades of industrial experience, told council he had joined a group concerned about the plantand said materials used in the manufacture of solar panels include "pyrophoric" gases that "will either spontaneously ignite upon exposure to air" and hydrofluoric acid, which he described as "extremely dangerous" because of its systemic toxicity. Jernak said the site would create risks…
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