Solar Plant Faces Heat Over Safety Concerns and Unpaid Bills

A solar panel factory in South Carolina is under scrutiny after a wave of emergency calls raised questions about workplace safety. Lawmakers recently asked the state labor department to dig deeper into 13 reported incidents over the past year where employees needed medical attention. Many calls involved breathing difficulties, though county officials later claimed most were unrelated to chemicals or factory conditions. Still, the pattern sparked worries about hidden risks inside the plant.The factory, which paused operations after a chemical spill earlier this month, is now back to limited work—but not full production. County leaders say no regulated chemicals were in use during this phase, yet concerns linger. A recent chemical spill involving potassium hydroxide, initially reported as nearly 1, 500 gallons but later corrected to about 300, forced a temporary shutdown. Another leak, this time hydrofluoric acid—a highly dangerous substance—was described by the company as just a minor drip inside a building. Adding to the plant’s troubles, a local piping company sued for nearly $80, 000 in unpaid work from last year. The lawsuit claims the company completed its work but never received payment. Meanwhile, residents near the factory have grown vocal, demanding answers about safety and transparency. The company insists it’s cooperating with investigations, but skepticism remains.