A Sad Night in Darlington County as Solar Farm Project is Rammed Through

On Wednesday, February 18th, I attended an appeal’s hearing before the Darlington County Planning Commission. Citizens who will be affected by Pit Stop Solar, an 845-acre project, filed an appeal because the county “staff” approved the massive project without meeting all the requirements. The Citizens gave proof of the violations and requested from the Planning Committee “evidence” of their allegations that every requirement was met. The county “staff” could not and would not provide the evidence and neither would or could the Planning Committee. 

The Darlington County Planning Commission’s Mission Statement reads: “The mission of the Darlington County Planning Department is to promote the public health, safety and welfare through ensuring that the County has adopted Development Standard Ordinances & Policies…”

I provided my testimony of how my son’s urinalysis results came back with high levels of Aluminum, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, and other heavy metals due to exposure of environmental toxins. A woman testified that she and another family member both suffer from seizures because of their exposure to environmental toxins. She also stated she watched several family members die of cancer because of the same toxic exposure. The crowd pleaded with the Committee for a moratorium, but to no avail. The Chairman, Chad White, and Committee member, Robert Puechl, were bent on approving the project – no matter what.

Go back and read the Mission Statement!

You will not believe what happened next, or maybe you will.

Chairman, Chad White, called for a motion to approve the 845-acre project. He got a motion from Robert Puechl, but he could not get a second from another Committee member – no matter how hard he tried. Now… seeing that he did not have a second, he called for an executive session. Unbelievable, but believable! Chairman Chad White of the Lucas, White & Mitchell law firm took the Committee behind closed doors and was able to persuade Frankie Jernigan to second the motion.

Approve the Solar farm project or bust.

Did I mention that Jay Lucas is the County Attorney and his law partner, Chad White, is the Chairman of the Planning Commission? It’s the same Jay Lucas who is running for South Carolina Supreme Court judge. The other partner, Cody Mitchell, quietly took Lucas’ House seat. Mitchell is state representative for District 65.

Here are some facts: 

·      17 solar projects have been approved – with 17 more waiting approval.

·      The 845-acre project will have 1,000 to 1,500 panels per acre. At a minimum that’s 845,000 panels concentrated in that one area.

·      Each solar panel consists of half an ounce (.5 oz) of Lead. That’s 422,500 oz, which equals 26,406.25 pounds of Lead – just in that 845-acre area.

·      Each solar panel consists of one-quarter ounce (.25 oz) of Cadmium. That’s 211,250 oz, which equals 13,203.125 pounds of Cadmium – just in that 845-acre area.

History has taught us that solar panels are damaged by hail, storms and other factors and that they are eventually neglected. The panels are abandoned to leach Lead, Cadmium and other toxins into our soil and waterways.

If all the solar farm projects are approved in Darlington County, it will take more than half of our farmland.

Who in their right mind would approve such a monstrous proposition?

After the meeting adjourned, representatives of Pit Stop Solar thanked Committee member Robert Puechl in the parking lot. To which he replied, “You’re welcome.”

Folks, Darlington County officials have forgotten who they are supposed to protect.

A video of the full hearing can be seen by clicking here.