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Greenwood County approves second reading for Duke Energy solar rezoning amid fierce public debate
Summary
After hours of public comment weighing environmental and visual impacts, Greenwood County Council approved second reading of a rezoning request that would allow a Duke Energy utility‑scale solar project to proceed to the next step; council asked the developer to answer a list of written questions before third reading.
Greenwood County Council on Oct. 7 approved second reading of a zoning map amendment that would reclassify three parcels totaling about 1,005.71 acres from forest‑agriculture to rural development, a change Duke Energy said is needed to permit a utility‑scale solar farm. The vote followed an extended public hearing and a divided council vote to move the ordinance forward while collecting detailed questions from council members for the developer.
Why it matters: The rezoning opens the way for a large‑scale solar project on land off Rockhouse, 5 Notch and Hunter roads that Duke Energy estimates could involve leases on roughly 2,500 acres and place panels on about 1,000 acres. Proponents emphasized long‑term land leases, construction jobs and decommissioning commitments;…
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