Citizens Alliance for Government Integrity (Move Silfab)

 December 19th, 2024 by Dan Friedman, Organizer

Help Us Continue the Fight to Move Silfab Out of Fort Mill! CAGI (Citizen’s Alliance for Government Integrity) has made great progress in the fight to Move Silfab and continues to be dedicated to ensuring that our community remains safe for everyone. Right now, we’re in the middle of a critical legal battle to relocate Silfab Solar to a properly zoned heavy industrial area—away from residential and educational spaces where toxic chemicals and potential risks are putting our community at danger.  

Timeline of events:

 

April, 2024: Our attorney filed an appeal of Silfab’s zoning verification letter. 

 

May 9th, 2024: The BZA ruled unanimously that Silfab’s solar panel factory cannot be built in a light industrial zoned property.  

June 25th, 2024: York County issued an unsigned letter stating their intention to ignore the law created by the BZA ruling and continue to issue permits for Silfab to build their factory. 

June 28th, 2024: Silfab appealed the BZA ruling and requested mediation with the York County attorney (in an attempt to sign a back-door deal to nullify the BZA ruling) (case #2024CP4602641).  

July 11, 2024: CAGI leadership met with County Council Chairperson Christi Cox, County Manager Josh Edwards, County Director of Planning & Zoning Jonathan Buono, County Attorney Michael Kendree and Asst. County Manager/Treasurer Kevin Madden to discuss Citizen concerns to date as well as incorrect and inaccurate information released in the June 25, 2024 York County Statement on Silfab Solar. We presented a Six Point Document summarizing the concerns and requesting feedback. County officials stated that they would provide a response but never did and ignored follow-up requests. 

July 24th, 2024: Our attorney filed a motion to intervene into Silfab’s appeal of the BZA ruling in order to stop the back-door mediation deal (case # 2024CP4602641).

September, 2024: Our attorney filed an appeal of Silfab’s air permit to DES after they changed the height of their acid scrubber from 70’ to 50’. 

September 5th, 2024: Our attorney filed suit against York County, Silfab, and Exeter for ‘temporary and permanent injunctive relief’ and a ‘temporary restraining order’ for the future construction of Silfab’s factory (case # 2024CP4603532).  

October 7th, 2024: Our attorney argued our intervention motion before a judge (case # 2024CP4602641). 

 October 16th: Our appeal of Silfab’s air permit was assigned to a judge in administrative law court. 

 October 22nd, 2024: The judge ruled in our favor and allowed us to intervene into Silfab’s appeal, effectively stopping their back-door mediation attempt (case # 2024CP4602641). 

 November 15th, 2024: Our attorney filed a motion to dismiss Silfab’s appeal of the BZA (case # 2024CP4602641).

 December 18th: An in-person trial will be held to hear numerous motions in case # 2024CP4602641 and in case # 2024CP4603532.

 Why Additional Funds Are Needed. Initial funds raised have been used to cover legal fees to date (12/6/24). But we can’t win this fight without continued support. Additional funds are needed to continue challenging Silfab’s dangerous location and fight for a safer environment.  

Every contribution, no matter how large or small, will go directly toward: Legal expenses : Court fees, attorney costs, and other essential legal support. Environmental Risk Analysis: Silfab’s internal RMP is filled with errors and minimizes the death and destruction which would result from a myriad of possible accidents, miscalculations, or unplanned breakdowns. We need an independent study to show the courts how dangerous their experimental factory would be. Advocacy efforts : Ensuring local government and decision-makers understand the full scope of the risk.