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Sumter County approves stricter rules for large solar farms after debate
Summary
Sumter County Council voted 5–1 on Dec. 12, 2023, to amend zoning rules for large photovoltaic solar projects, adding 200-foot setbacks, 50-foot evergreen buffers, native-vegetation requirements in some districts and a 125% decommissioning surety to address long-term site restoration.
Sumter County Council on Dec. 12 granted third reading to OA-23-01, a zoning amendment that adds primary and accessory photovoltaic solar energy systems (NAICS 221114) to several zoning districts while imposing new site, screening and decommissioning requirements. The ordinance passed 5–1, with Councilman Carlton B. Washington casting the lone vote against it.
Planning Director Helen Roodman told the council the proposed changes reflect community feedback and staff recommendations, including a 200-foot setback from property lines and public rights-of-way, a 50-foot-wide evergreen buffer along road rights-of-way and between solar sites and adjacent residences, limits on panel height to 15 feet at maximum tilt, and a requirement to use native ground cover in Agricultural Conservation and Conservation Preservation districts in line with the South Carolina Solar Habitat Act technical…
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