SC Lt. Gov. Evette: Silfab Solar ‘must be held accountable’ after chemical spill
South Carolina’s lieutenant governor is calling for accountability at the controversial Silfab Solar plant near Fort Mill as two chemical spills this week renewed concerns about hazardous materials at the site.
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette said residents and parents deserve answers after the incident at the solar manufacturing facility in York County, which already faced intense scrutiny from nearby communities over its use and storage of chemicals near homes and schools. Her comments came after the first spill earlier this week, which was before another chemical release Thursday morning that prompted the nearby Flint Hill Elementary School to close for the day. Gov. Henry McMaster also said he was concerned about the spill.
Emergency crews responded Tuesday after a 300 gallon-spill of potassium hydroxide at the facility. On Thursday morning, York County officials said another incident involving hydrofluoric acid was reported at the site. County emergency management responded to monitor the situation and said the chemical appeared to be contained within secondary containment systems designed to capture releases.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services ordered the facility to immediately cease all operations Thursday following the second spill, according to a letter sent to the company and posted on Facebook by state Sen. Michael Johnson, a Republican whose district covers Fort Mill.
Evette’s concerns came in a post Tuesday on X and Facebook.
“Regardless of what caused this leak and its ultimate resolution, residents and parents deserve answers,” she wrote. “Silfab must be held accountable — providing assurances that these chemicals are properly contained, will not cause harm, and that adequate plans are in place for future spills or emergencies.”
Evette is running for governor of South Carolina. Others in the race, including Attorney General Alan Wilson, have also commented on the matter. A spokesperson for Evette’s campaign for governor said her statement still stands after the second spill.
In a video sent to The Charlotte Observer by the governor’s office, McMaster said he also has concerns about the spill. His comments also came after the first spill.
“Anytime you have a chemical spill or any sort of environmental challenge like that there are concerns,” McMaster said.
A spokesperson for the governor said to direct further questions to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.
Silfab Solar said in a statement Thursday morning there is no need for emergency services related to the spill and no public safety concerns.
What other politicians say
Johnson called the stop order a “major step forward” on Facebook. Earlier in the day he and state Rep. David Martin, a York County Republican, released a lengthy statement calling for the facility to halt operation, accountability, and “decisive action.”
“Both incidents involved hazardous chemicals and both had the potential to create a serious impact on families, students, and the surrounding community... There is no justification for allowing operations involving hazardous chemicals to continue while serious safety concerns remain unresolved,” the statement said. “The safety of the Fort Mill community is non-negotiable.”
Martin previously called for SCDES to issue a stop-work order at the facility following the earlier spill this week.
Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage said the town’s emergency responders have assisted York County authorities as needed in response to the incidents. Town officials have received numerous calls from residents asking how Fort Mill is responding, Savage said, but the town does not have regulatory authority over the site because it sits in unincorporated York County.
This story was originally published March 5, 2026 at 11:13 AM.
