Производитель солнечных панелей Silfab возобновляет суд по земельному спору и сокращает персонал из-за проблем с поставками

YORK COUNTY — A beleaguered solar cell and panel maker, now facing staffing challenges, returns to court Aug. 26 to continue its zoning dispute for its Fort Mill operation. Circuit Court Judge William McKinnon is allowing Silfab Solar to represent its case after he ruled against the company in its appeal against the York County Board of Zoning Appeals. He affirmed the zoning board’s call that solar cell manufacturing doesn’t qualify as a use in light-industrial zoning. Silfab’s converted warehouse on Logistics Lane in Fort Mill is in a light-industrial zone. In their request to McKinnon to hear the arguments a second time, Silfab attorneys said the judge’s conclusions didn’t match the rationale used in the zoning board’s ruling. Silfab counsel also said the court misapplied precedent set by previous cases. The court session will be at York County’s Moss Justice Center at 11 a.m. Aug. 26. The hearing comes as the manufacturer grapples with staff decisions. An unspecified number of employees were furloughed beginning Aug. 17. Silfab officials described the workforce decrease as a “temporary period” that will be resolved in the next month. Officials said the lack of availability of certain materials required for production is the reason for the furloughs. Silfab had announced plans to idle the plant for six days, citing the same supply chain issues. Silfab began operations at the beginning of 2026. Though hazardous materials had been received at the site, the solar cell manufacturing had not fully begun there, according to York County officials. After a couple of chemical leak reports, the S.C. Department of Environmental Services restricted the plant to assembly work until Silfab met a series of safety requirements. In a whistleblower lawsuit against Silfab, a status conference is scheduled for Sept. 24, also with Judge McKinnon. Former employee Jason Rhoades filed the suit one year ago, accusing the manufacturer of unsafe working conditions, such as having employees work in the building before an occupancy permit was issued.