Fort Mill board adopts resolution asking state, county to limit Silfab Solar to assembly-only operations after chemical releases

The Fort Mill School District Board of Trustees on March 2026 adopted a resolution asking Governor Henry McMaster, the South Carolina General Assembly, Attorney General Alan Wilson and the York County Council to permanently limit operations at the Silfab Solar facility to assembly processes and to remove hazardous chemicals from the site.

Reading the text of the resolution, Miss Branning said the board’s action would “request the honorable governor Henry McMaster, the South Carolina General Assembly, attorney general Alan Wilson, the York County Council, and all pertinent regulatory authorities to permanently restrict operations at the site to assembly process only, including the immediate removal of hazardous chemicals from the site in accordance with the facility's current light industrial zone.”

Why it matters: the resolution cites two chemical release incidents that occurred days apart and that forced Flint Hill Elementary School to close for multiple days, disrupted learning and heightened fear among students, parents and staff. The resolution also notes that neither incident was initially reported to the Fort Mill School District by York County Emergency Management or Silfab Solar, and it references a York County Board of Zoning Appeals finding that the facility’s manufacturing operations violate light industrial zone requirements.

The resolution, as read aloud by Miss Branning, framed the request as a safety measure for the district’s “more than 18,000 students and 2,500 employees” and highlighted the facility’s proximity to Flint Hill Elementary School, which is operating, and Flint Hill Middle School, which the resolution says is under construction.

Procedural details: Miss Branning moved to accept the resolution on behalf of the board; the Chair seconded the motion. The board adopted the resolution by voice vote after the Chair called for favor and heard “Aye.” The Chair said, “This motion carries,” and indicated the resolution would be signed that evening and presented to the named officials the next morning. The transcript records a voice vote only; exact vote counts and the names of individual trustees voting were not specified in the record.

What the resolution requests and next steps: the board’s formal request asks named state and local officials and regulatory authorities to exercise their authorities to limit the Silfab facility’s operations strictly to nonhazardous assembly processes and to remove hazardous chemicals from the site. The transcript does not record any further direction from the board about enforcement steps, timetables, or follow-up reporting requirements.

The meeting opened and closed with brief ceremonial items and lasted only long enough to return from executive session, introduce and adopt the resolution, and adjourn. The transcript records the meeting took place in March 2026 but does not state the exact calendar date.

The board adjourned after adoption of the resolution.