By This news item was prepared through AI from a story written by Sammy Fretwell. It was edited by journalists. July 26, 2026 6:00 AM Gift Article This solar farm off Van Boklen Road in Eastover, S.C., will help diversify the state’s energy grid, but some rural residents say solar farms are becoming a blight on the landscape. Sammy Fretwell/The State Lower Richland residents, along with the mayor of Eastover and a former county official, are urging Richland County Council to halt the spread of solar farms they say are converting rural farmland into industrial energy sites. The concerns intensified after a Texas-based company approached landowners about a potential large-scale project near Eastover. FULL STORY: Richland solar farms junk up once pastoral landscapes, rural landowners say Here are key takeaways: Jill Carter Lewis, who runs Mr. Bunky’s general store on U.S. 378, told the County Council that solar companies aren’t truly “green,” citing logging, grading, herbicide spraying and fencing that blocks wildlife. Her family is circulating a petition to stop additional solar farms in Eastover. Solar farms could cover as many as 3,000 acres near Eastover, including one existing 740-acre project, a proposed 472-acre project and a potential 2,000-acre development by Texas-based RWE, which declined to comment. Eastover Mayor James Faber called it “disgusting” that a corporation would pursue major development without community input, while residents said Richland County’s zoning laws are too weak and don’t require screening solar farms from roads or neighboring properties. Jeff Ruble, chief executive at the Columbia Area Development Partnership, said one Eastover solar farm is expected to generate $7.5 million in economic impact over 30 years and provides county revenue with little cost to taxpayers. A 2024 report by University of South Carolina economist Joseph Von Nessen projected solar energy would use about 1.4% of South Carolina’s agricultural land by 2035, concluding the expansion “does not represent a significant threat” to the state’s agricultural sector. The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

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