Letter to the editor: Solar farm ... the other side of the story

I live within a mile and a half of the proposed solar farm that was planned for the Borden, Dalzell, Rembert area. While The Item's article "State to weigh large solar farm after zoning board's rejection" in the Sept. 20-23 issue gave some of the facts, there is another side to this story.

While it is true that county council approved the request for the solar farm, it did so in the dark. TOCE SC Solar 1 pleaded its case to council without notifying a single property owner that would be affected by the solar farm. Its presentation included a statement that a notice had been sent to residents. In fact, that notice was mailed, just not to anyone adjacent to the proposed site. A letter was presented stating at the meeting which was held in the Rembert community center all in attendance approved the project. The letter was a forgery, in that the person whose signature appeared on the letter never in fact wrote or signed such a letter. TOCE SC Solar 1 reportedly offered $200,000 to help build a gym in Rembert, to "help" the community. Was it to "help" the community or to "help" TOCE SC 1 gain approval?

Once the affected property owners discovered the plan for the solar farm, over 1,000 attended the scheduled meeting of the council zoning board to protest the project. The property owners only found out about the proposed project when signs were placed around the proposed site by the zoning board. The zoning board heard from several attendees who presented objections to the project. Based on the information presented, the zoning board turned down TOCE SC 1 plan.

This project, if approved, will create tons of waste at the end of its life cycle. It could endanger the water table in the entire area. It would create additional stress on already dilapidated roads. Some property owners would be surrounded on three sides by the project as close as 100 feet to the property lines. The project area would be sprayed with chemicals to eliminate the vegetation, and wildlife would be adversely affected.

TOCE SC 1 has NO operating solar farms. They have no track records on how well they will or will not protect the environment. They are only interested in the tax credits earned by the project. The people who want to lease the over 1,000 acres to TOCE SC 1 don't even live in Sumter Council so have no skin in the game. This proposed project was based on deception from its concept, more than likely due to the fact they have been turned down in two other areas. This is not about renewable energy, it's about money. Money to the landowner, money in the form of tax credits to TOCE SC 1 and money in tax revenue. It's time to ask: "Would you want this project in YOUR back yard?"

ANGUS F. MCDUFFIE

Rembert resident