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Resident urges ban on cadmium‑telluride solar panels; commission asks Board of Supervisors to consider ordinance changes
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Summary
A Tazewell County resident urged the commission to prohibit cadmium‑telluride (Cd‑Te) solar panels and submitted an MSDS; commissioners requested the Board of Supervisors and the Public Service Authority discuss amending the county Solar Ordinance in April.
Robert Carlson of 1142 Lake Witten addressed the Planning Commission during the citizen‑comment period on March 14, 2024, urging the county to prohibit solar panels that contain cadmium‑telluride (Cd‑Te) and handing commissioners an MSDS for Cd‑Te.
"The use of Cadmium‑Telluride, Cd‑Te, in solar panels is a hazardous toxin that causes cancer," Carlson wrote in a formal letter submitted with the meeting packet and reiterated orally. He also suggested the county adopt a "nuclear ordinance" to protect residents and proposed specific text to add to the county solar ordinance to ban Cd‑Te panels.
Chairperson Ann Robinson and County Attorney Chase Collins asked that the MSDS/SDS documentation be incorporated into the meeting minutes. Robinson asked that the Planning Commission meet with the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors to discuss amending the county Solar Ordinance and requested that the Public Service Authority attend the Board meeting in April 2024 to review the matter and the submitted materials.
The meeting record includes a ChemicalBook MSDS/SDS for cadmium telluride as an exhibit. The commission did not adopt an ordinance change at the March 14 meeting; no formal motion or vote to amend the Solar Ordinance was recorded. Any change to county ordinance would require further review and formal action by the Board of Supervisors.