SUMTER, S.C. (WIS)—Residents in rural areas of Sumter County are voicing concern about the possibility of a new solar farm.

Many living in Dalzell and Rembert are worried the White Palmetto Solar Farm will hurt long-time residents more than it will help them.

“It’s not good for the environment, and it not good for the people that are going to have to be around it, said Dalzell resident Valerie Hatfield-Rabon, “It’s not what they want to see out their back doors when they get up in the morning.”

Many residents who live in Sumter County near Borden Road feel this way about the proposed solar farm project by Treaty Oak Clean Energy, potentially coming to their community.

The White Palmetto Solar Farm would have solar panels on more than 1600 acres of land throughout the county, primarily around Borden, Black River, and Cimmaron Roads.

Members of the Sumter County Council believe this project is good for the community because it’s bringing a new renewable energy source to Sumter.

Valerie Hatfield-Rabon is one resident who disagrees, who feels the project won’t create a ton of jobs for community members and will hurt local ecosystems.

“You are looking at a disruption of an untold amount to the landscape, to the temperature in the area, (and) to the wildlife,” Hatfield-Rabon said, “This is not what people want to have in their backyard.”

Adam Boykin is another concerned resident from Rembert, who lives on Borden Road nearby, where panels are expected to be installed.

Like Hatfield-Rabon, Boykin also thinks the project should be thrown out completely. He’s worried about wastewater running onto his property and if the solar panels will loudly hum or buzz when they’re up and running.

“I’m still shell-shocked from the shots I heard in Vietnam and hearing a humming noise at night, or any type of noise out of the ordinary, I cannot sleep,” Boykin said, “This would probably put some unforeseen things to change in my normal life.”

Sumter’s Board of Appeals will be having a public hearing about the project on Wednesday, May 14, at the Sumter Opera House.

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