The Dillon County Council passed the first reading of an amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding permitted uses of solar farms in a rural district.
Code Enforcement Director Larry Jones said they have received an influx of calls in the past eight to 10 months regarding bringing solar farms to various areas of the county.
They did research in other states and in other areas of South Carolina about their ordinances regarding solar farms.
The following stipulations they are proposing would protect the public from glares and noise.

The proposed amendment reads:
Proposed Amendment to Dillon County Zoning Ordinance
Article II 1-201 Definitions.
The Planning Commission proposes that certain definitions be added in order to help explain other possible amendments to the ordinance.
Solar Farm: Systems designed by normally using photovoltaic solar panels to transform energy from the solar panel for the primary purpose of generating power for the sale to third parties via the electric grid. These systems are normally ground-mounted systems that may or may not have accessory structures on the same lot.
4-101 RU – Rural/Agriculture District Uses

RU Permitted Uses
Add Item 18.
18. Solar Farms
Provided:
A. No grid tied photovoltaic system shall be installed until evidence has been given to the planning department that the owner has been approved by the utility company to install the system.
B. Applications for Solar Farm Development shall be accompanied by plans for the Solar Farm, drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions and shape of the parcel or parcels of land upon which the Solar Farm is to be erected, built or constructed, the size and location of any roads, lakes or streams touching on said parcel or parcels of land, the dimensions of the proposed Solar Farm and the fencing and gates required to be around the exterior perimeter of the same in compliance with this ordinance.
C. Solar farms shall be located on a minimum 20 acre tract.
D. Every component of the solar farm will be limited to a maximum 20 feet in height; this provision shall not include the interconnection pole, substation equipment or other devices necessary for the electricity to be delivered to the public utility station.
E. A minimum six feet tall security fence with gates and locks will surround the perimeter of the solar farm to limit access to solar farms by unauthorized individuals. Locks shall remained locked at all-time except for those times when the owner/operator or their respective agents are using the gate for ingress and egress. The fence shall be maintained in good condition.
F. Reasonable accessibility for emergency services vehicles shall be required.
G. Setbacks of all active solar equipment, structures and buildings shall be a minimum of 30 feet except that all active solar equipment and structures along any (from major roads to) South Carolina Primary and Interstate Systems Highways shall be 100 feet. All setbacks shall be measured from the exterior of the fencing and gates which are required around the perimeter of all solar farms.
H. In the event power production ceases for a period of six (6) months, the owner of the Solar Farm equipment and/or owner of the real property upon which the Solar Farm is located shall remove from the site all the components of the Solar Farm, to include equipment, conduit, structures, foundations and any other improvements or devices used in the installation or operation of the Solar Farm and dispose of these components in accordance with applicable law. The fence and gate requirements shall continue until such Solar Farm is dismantled and removed from the parcel or parcels of land upon which it was constructed.
Councilman Archie Scott made the motion to accept the amendment seconded by Councilman Stevie Grice.
The reading was approved.