Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High near 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..
Rain ending early. Remaining cloudy. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Updated: December 18, 2025 @ 11:36 am
Michael Wrenn
Michael Wrenn
Williamsburg County has long been known as a sportsman’s paradise—a place where generations have hunted deer in sprawling forests, fished in pristine waters, and passed down a deep connection to our land. Today, that heritage is under threat, not from natural forces, but from decisions being made behind closed doors by our own County Council.
Utility-scale solar farms are transforming our rural landscape at an alarming rate. These massive industrial installations, some spanning hundreds or thousands of acres, are replacing the farmland and woodlands that have sustained our community for generations. The very land that once provided habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation is being covered with rows of solar panels and chain-link fences.
The impact on our sportsman’s paradise cannot be overstated. Solar farms eliminate critical wildlife habitat. Deer, turkey, quail, and other game species lose their homes when forests are cleared and fields are covered with industrial equipment. The natural corridors that wildlife use to move across our county are being fragmented and destroyed.
For a community that has built its identity around outdoor traditions, this represents a fundamental loss of our way of life. But perhaps most troubling is the manner in which these projects are being approved. Time and again, Williamsburg County residents have found themselves blindsided by solar development decisions. Projects appear on County Council agendas with minimal advance notice, leaving citizens scrambling to understand what’s being proposed. By the time concerned residents learn about a project, it’s often already passed through multiple readings or been approved through agreements that weren’t adequately publicized.
This pattern suggests a deliberate strategy of limiting public input. Agendas are posted with vague descriptions that don’t fully convey the scope or location of proposed solar farms. Public hearings are scheduled at inconvenient times. Critical details about projects—their true size, proximity to homes and schools, or long-term impacts—aren’t readily available until after decisions have been made.
South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act requires 24-hour notice for agenda items, but this minimal requirement does little to ensure meaningful public participation. How can residents meaningfully comment on a complex solar development agreement when they first learn about it 24 hours before a vote? How can we protect our property values, our viewsheds, and our hunting land when County Council rushes through approvals before we can organize a response?
The economic promises made by solar companies deserve scrutiny too. While they tout job creation and tax revenue, the reality is often far different. Construction jobs are temporary and often filled by out-of-state workers. The long-term employment is minimal—solar farms require little maintenance.
Meanwhile, our agricultural economy suffers, our tourism potential diminishes, and our quality of life erodes. Williamsburg County residents deserve transparency and genuine opportunity for input on decisions that will permanently alter our landscape. We deserve a County Council that values our sportsman’s heritage and recognizes that once our forests and fields are gone, they cannot be reclaimed. We deserve leaders who will slow down, fully inform the public, and prioritize the voices of the people who actually live here over the profits of outside corporations.
Our sportsman’s paradise is worth fighting for—if only our County Council would give us a fair chance to do so.
Michael Wrenn
Kingstree, S.C.
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