Residents of Darlington County in South Carolina are fighting against a proposed solar farm being put in their community.  Innovate Solar Systems wants to put 100,000 solar panels on up to 185 acres and this week residents filled the Darlington County Planning Commission meeting to make sure their voices were heard.

Residents are concerned that the planned solar farm will not only be an eyesore, but also a danger to the community due to toxic material in solar panels.  Solar panels do contain a few toxins including cadmium, solinium, arsenic and mercury, residents are worried that these toxins will leak out into the ground or water.

A representative for Innovate Solar Systems said that the chemicals commonly found inside these panels–including cadmium and mercury–will not leak, and will not be a danger to the community.

Darlington County Council wants to be educated on solar farms.  They plan to hold a joint workshop with the Darlington County Planning Commission and representatives of state and federal agencies that might have regulatory authority over such facilities to learn more about solar farms.