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Berkeley County land-use panel lifts moratorium to review 1,500-acre Sandy Run solar proposal amid heavy public opposition
Summary
Berkeley County’s Land Use committee voted to lift a moratorium to allow review of RWE’s proposed Sandy Run solar project, a roughly 1,500-acre proposal that drew repeated public concerns about wetlands, water, wildlife and long-term decommissioning; the motion passed by a recorded three yes votes.
The Committee on Land Use voted to lift a large-scale-development moratorium so the county can receive and review an application from RWE Solar Development LLC for the Sandy Run solar project, a proposal the company described as roughly 1,500 acres in Council District 7. The committee carried the motion, recorded as three yes votes, after more than an hour of presentation and public comment.
RWE representatives said the moratorium lift is a procedural step to allow the county to gather more information. Josh McNeely, who identified himself as head of utility-scale development for RWE, said the company is "excited to be here in Berkeley County" and that conversations with Santee Cooper about interconnection have been "very constructive." Peter Stalter, who introduced himself as the lead developer on the Sandy Run project, described a site at least a mile from public roads, two main entrances, an operations-and-maintenance building and a collector substation that would tie into Santee Cooper’s transmission line. "We are avoiding wetlands with any of our major infrastructure," Stalter said, and added that RWE plans to post surety via a letter of credit or bond to guarantee decommissioning.
Members of the public urged caution. Robert Barnett, introduced by the chair as the first speaker, said the project would "destroy 2,500 acres of wildlife" and argued major investors and out-of-state owners would disproportionately benefit. Michael Parker, a Ridgeville farmer, said residents worry about "forever chemicals, taxpayer cleanup, water pollution, loss of habitat" and asked that the county be selective about business partners. Sylvia Zakrzyewski, who gave her Long Point Road address, warned about soil compaction, microclimate changes under panels, inverter noise and lithium-ion battery fire risks, asking whether RWE would fund equipment and training for local fire departments.
Other residents asked why the application listed approximately 1,500 acres while surrounding tracts total more acreage, questioned how buried transmission lines would be removed at decommissioning, and expressed skepticism that promised jobs would go to local workers. Peter Stalter said RWE plans to prioritize local labor when possible, to partner with a local blueberry farmer for co-located agricultural use and to pursue a solar technician program with Trident Tech.
Council debate mixed procedural and policy concerns. One council member recused himself from the discussion because of an employment conflict related to the proposed project. The county supervisor—who said he does not vote in committee—told the meeting he opposes large-scale solar in Berkeley County and would vote no if the item reached him as a tie at full council. Another member said Santee Cooper had put out a request for power projects and that lifting the moratorium would allow the county to ask more questions of applicants and Santee Cooper about capacity needs.
What happens next: lifting the moratorium does not approve the project. The action permits staff to receive additional information and begin a formal review process. The application identified the project as a PD/IP under ordinance 23-07-40 and included a TMS number for the parcel; the committee’s vote sends the matter forward for further staff analysis and future council consideration.
Action and vote: The committee recorded the motion to lift the moratorium as carried (yes: 3; recorded opposition noted). The chair announced a five-minute recess after the vote.
