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Resident urges moratorium on utility-scale solar; council delays public hearing until county attorney can attend
Summary
Cheryl Lane told the council she had received no response to questions about utility-scale solar on tax map 45046003 and asked for a moratorium; the County Supervisor said the proposed solar ordinance will be posted before the next meeting and the public hearing will be delayed until legal counsel can attend.
A Williamsburg County resident used the public-comment period to press the council for responsiveness on utility-scale solar and to request a moratorium on development while local rules are settled.
"Trust could have been fostered by responding to my questions on 12/19/2023 when I asked counsel about their knowledge of utility scale solar projects on tax map 45046003," Cheryl Lane said, listing prior requests for a moratorium and for solar ordinances in January and February 2024 that she said received no response.
County Supervisor acknowledged Lane—s concerns, reminded the room that citizen comments were limited to three minutes and said the council would not hold the ordinance's public hearing without legal counsel present: "I do not believe in doing public hearings without legal counsel being there." He said the county attorney has a scheduling conflict for the next meeting that would serve as the public hearing, so the first reading will be delayed until counsel can attend.
The Supervisor also addressed rumors circulating about a proposed business for disposal of battery waste, saying he had "no idea where that came from" and urging accuracy: "if you're going to tell something, tell the truth." He said the county follows legal posting requirements for the agenda and that the proposed solar ordinance will be posted on the county website before the next council meeting so residents can review it and compare it with ordinances from other South Carolina counties.
The council did not take substantive action on the solar ordinance at the meeting; the Supervisor asked the Clerk to post the ordinance online and to present the ordinance at the next meeting when legal counsel can attend. He also reminded attendees about meeting decorum and announced a change to seat-sign policy: signs may not be used to reserve seats on the council chamber benches and should be held in the rear of the room if desired.
The council set its next meeting for Tuesday, March 19 at 6 p.m., when postponed items may return to the agenda.
