Charlotte Sees Biggest Rent Decline in America as Office Market Struggles

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte Sees Biggest Rent Decline in America as Office Market Struggles

Charlotte’s office market just posted the biggest rent decline in the nation as the city continues grappling with rising vacancies and a massive wave of new development.

According to a new national report from CommercialCafe, Charlotte office rents fell 10.5% over the past 12 months — the steepest drop among major U.S. office markets.

The sharp decline comes as Charlotte faces elevated vacancy rates, shifting workplace trends, and intense competition among landlords trying to fill office space.

CommercialCafe data shows Charlotte’s average office asking rent now sits around $35.86 per square foot.

Top Listings by Metro Area:

 
National $32.91 −1.3% 17.6% −210 bps
Atlanta $36.64 7.2% 18.6% −170 bps 3344 Peachtree $75.15
Nashville $32.99 6.3% 16.6% −130 bps Gulch Union $56.62
Twin Cities $27.66 5.6% 17.7% 160 bps International Centre $42.39
New Jersey $34.58 3.4% 16.1% −280 bps Harborside Financial Plaza 10 $66.08
Miami $58.41 3.3% 12.5% −300 bps 1450 Brickell $160.00
Phoenix $29.65 3.1% 16.3% −200 bps The Watermark $56.00
Bay Area $55.05 3.1% 21.6% −390 bps 525 University Avenue $160.87
Dallas $32.15 2.2% 20.7% −310 bps 23Springs $106.59
Austin $46.81 2.0% 24.9% −390 bps Indeed Tower $84.39
Manhattan $69.29 1.4% 13.1% −300 bps 50 Hudson Yards $250.00
Portland $28.64 1.4% 21.5% −20 bps Fox Tower $50.53
Seattle $36.01 1.2% 25.2% −180 bps City Center Bellevue $83.19
Chicago $28.02 1.0% 18.2% −90 bps 333 North Green $65.29
Tampa $30.30 0.6% 14.5% −200 bps Halcyon at The Central $65.00
Washington, D.C. $40.28 0.3% 19.5% 30 bps 2100 L Street NW $84.09
Houston $28.68 0.0% 19.9% −290 bps Marathon Oil Headquarters $74.20
Philadelphia $30.76 −0.3% 18.4% −80 bps Three Logan Square $56.07
Los Angeles $41.73 −0.6% 13.8% −220 bps Century City Center $126.00
Denver $30.17 −2.4% 19.9% −470 bps Block 162 $54.38
San Diego $42.90 −3.1% 22.8% 20 bps 2100 Kettner $69.00
San Francisco $62.03 −3.4% 23.3% −570 bps Sand Hill Collection – The Quad $210.00
Detroit $20.81 −3.7% 23.3% −210 bps Michigan Central Station $40.00
Boston $43.00 −6.6% 14.7% −240 bps One Canal Park $127.71
Orlando $25.99 −6.8% 18.1% 130 bps CNL Center II $54.19
Charlotte $31.65 −10.5% 18.0% 100 bps 110 East $55.00

Meanwhile, the city’s overall office vacancy rate climbed above 18%, with several major submarkets performing even worse, including a 21.38% vacancy rate in Uptown.

Despite the decline, Charlotte still remains one of the country’s fastest-growing business hubs. CommercialCafe noted Charlotte continues standing out nationally for office employment growth even while the broader office market struggles.

The city also continues attracting major employers and corporate expansions.

Recent large office leases in Charlotte included:

  • JPMorgan securing 137,000 square feet in SouthPark
  • Scout Motors leasing multiple floors Uptown
  • Charles Schwab taking more than 51,000 square feet in South End

However, office demand has become heavily concentrated in newer high-end Class A buildings while older properties continue losing tenants.

Colliers reported recently built trophy office buildings in Charlotte carried vacancy rates closer to 13.6%, significantly outperforming older properties.

At the same time, Charlotte developers spent years rapidly adding office towers across Uptown, South End, and Midtown during the city’s population and corporate boom.

Now, hybrid work and remote work trends are colliding with that construction pipeline.

Nationally, CommercialCafe reported average office rents fell 1.3% year-over-year while vacancy rates remained elevated at 17.6%.

Charlotte’s much steeper decline suggests the local market may be adjusting faster than many competing cities.

While the slowdown creates challenges for landlords and developers, lower rents could provide relief for businesses searching for office space in one of the nation’s fastest-growing metros.

Duke Submits Permits For New Advanced SMR Nuclear Plant in NC Amid Growing Data Center Needs

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Duke Submits Permits For New Advanced SMR Nuclear Plant in NC Amid Growing Data Center Needs

Facing surging electricity demand from rapid population growth and the exploding data center and artificial intelligence boom, Duke Energy is moving forward with plans for a new nuclear facility in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

The Charlotte-based utility has formally submitted an early site permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a proposed site near the Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County. The early site permit is technology neutral, allowing Duke to secure approval for the location while selecting a reactor design later.

The application outlines six potential Small Modular Reactor (SMR) reactor technology designs. Large traditional light-water reactors (like those at the Lake Norman and Lake Wylie plants) are not part of the proposal.

Under its long-term plan, Duke intends to add 600 megawatts of advanced nuclear power by 2037, with the first SMR potentially coming online in 2036.

Rendering of Romanian SMR Nuclear Reactor in collaboration with C&T E&C Group

Duke, the nation’s largest regulated nuclear operator, also plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Meanwhile, the company recently unveiled a record $103 billion capital plan through 2030 — a 13.7% increase over its previous five-year outlook.

“Nuclear energy has and will continue to play an essential role in powering communities in the Carolinas,” said Duke President Kendal Bowman in a press release.

Executives say unprecedented demand from AI-powered data centers is driving the expansion. Duke has secured 4.5 gigawatts of new data center load, with another 9 gigawatts in the pipeline as utilities race to scale up power generation across the Carolinas and Southeast.

Credit Union vs Bank: Key Differences Every Consumer Should Know

Sharon Anderson
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Credit Union vs Bank: Key Differences Every Consumer Should Know

Most of us want safe places for paychecks, bills, and goals. Banks and credit unions can both hold deposits, issue cards, and fund loans. Still, their structures shape pricing, service, and decision paths. Clear comparisons help households choose based on values, access, and long-term costs. A quick review of ownership, insurance, eligibility, and product fit can guide smarter choices for everyday spending and future borrowing.

Fast Comparison

To answer what is the difference between a credit union and bank, it helps to look at ownership and purpose first. A bank runs for profit and answers to investors. A credit union is member-owned and typically returns surplus through pricing and support. Those roots influence rates, fees, approvals, and branch strategy. That single distinction can explain many everyday differences across accounts and lending.

Ownership and Mission

Shareholders or private owners usually own banks, and they aim to reward that ownership with earnings. Credit unions are cooperatives owned by members who use the services. Each member generally has one vote in governance, regardless of balance size. That structure can shift priorities toward member benefits, steady pricing, and community focus, while still offering familiar account types and loan options.

Who Can Join

Many banks accept any qualified applicant, which can widen access across regions. Credit unions often require eligibility tied to location, employer, or an association. Limits can feel restrictive, yet they can also support local knowledge and relationship-based service. For households that meet the field of membership, joining can add a voice in leadership elections and policy direction.

Deposit Insurance Basics

Consumer protection matters most when a household is saving for emergencies. Bank deposits are commonly insured through federal deposit insurance, up to standard limits per depositor and institution. Credit union shares are typically insured through the national credit union share program with similar coverage levels. Either way, verifying insurance status and account titling helps ensure coverage aligns with a family’s plan.

Rates on Savings

Savings yields can vary by institution size, market strategy, and account design. Banks may price savings lower when profit targets and overhead rise. Credit unions may pay more on share accounts or certificates because they can return surplus to members. Comparing annual percentage yield, minimum balance rules, and withdrawal limits gives a clearer view than advertising claims alone.

Loan Pricing and Approvals

Loan costs depend on credit profile, collateral, and term length, yet institutional incentives play a role. Banks can offer broad product menus, including specialty lending. Credit unions may focus on core lending with pricing that reflects member-return goals. Approval timelines also differ. Local underwriting teams can sometimes weigh context, while centralized models may rely more heavily on standardized scoring.

Fee Structures

Fees quietly shape household budgets across the year. Banks may charge monthly maintenance, overdraft, wire, or out-of-network cash withdrawal costs, depending on account tier. Credit unions often keep fees lower or offer simpler schedules, though policies vary. Reading the fee guide, asking about waiver rules, and tracking common triggers can prevent avoidable charges.

Access and Convenience

Many banks have large branch footprints and wide automated teller networks, which can help frequent travelers. Credit unions may have fewer owned locations, yet shared branching and surcharge-free networks can extend reach. Mobile features also vary by provider. Checking remote deposit, alerts, bill pay, and card controls matters more than logo recognition for daily ease.

Service Experience

Service quality affects stress during disputes, errors, or urgent transfers. Banks may route support through larger call systems, which can feel efficient or impersonal. Credit unions often emphasize relationship support, with staff who know local patterns. Either model can deliver strong help, so consumers benefit from testing responsiveness before committing primary deposits or long-term loans.

Choosing What Fits

A practical choice starts with household priorities, not assumptions. If broad products, national access, and specialty services matter most, a bank may match that need. If member governance, potentially lower fees, and community focus feel important, a credit union may be a better fit. Comparing total annual cost, rate spreads, and service response offers a data-based decision path.

Conclusion

Banks and credit unions can both support checking, saving, and borrowing, yet their incentives differ. Ownership structure influences pricing, fees, and decision-making. Both models provide strong insurance protections when accounts are properly titled and covered. Households can compare rates, fee schedules, access options, and support quality, then pick the institution that best matches our routines, values, and goals.

No Swim Advisory Issued For Lake Wylie Cove After Raw Sewage Spill

Charlotte Stories
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No Swim Advisory Issued For Lake Wylie Cove After Raw Sewage Spill

A No Swim Advisory has just been issued for Lake Wylie after a raw sewage spill contaminated part of the lake.

According to CharMeck Storm Water, visitors should avoid the Island Cove area around Island Point Drive and Woody Point Drive after a private sewer leak released wastewater into the water.

Officials warn the contamination could contain dangerous bacteria, including fecal coliform linked to illnesses such as E. coli infections.

Residents, swimmers, and pet owners are being urged to stay out of the affected water until testing confirms conditions are safe again.

Storm Water Services crews have already collected water samples from the area to test bacteria levels.

The advisory will remain in place until officials determine the water is safe

Charlotte’s Most Expensive Home Ever Just Sold at Quail Hollow For $15 Million

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte’s Most Expensive Home Ever Just Sold at Quail Hollow For $15 Million

A massive luxury estate in Quail Hollow just shattered Charlotte-area real estate records with a $15 million sale.

The sale is now the highest-priced residential transaction ever recorded across the greater Charlotte region, including luxury properties surrounding Lake Norman and Lake Wylie.

The previous record was set last year when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. sold his Mooresville estate for $12.2 million.

According to Ivester Jackson Christie’s International Real Estate, the mansion sold for its full asking price after finding a buyer in just six days.

Lebda and his wife, Megan Greuling, purchased the property in 2016 for approximately $2.76 million before constructing the sprawling estate the following year.

The more than 17,500-square-foot mansion sits directly along the fairways of Quail Hollow Club – Charlotte’s most prestigious golf destinations and longtime host of major PGA tournaments.

The estate was designed by architect Harry Schrader alongside Arcadia Homes and J Layton Interiors.

The two-story home features a modern chateau-inspired design with an exterior built from 4-inch hand-cut limestone.

Inside, the property includes:

  • Six bedrooms
  • Six full bathrooms
  • Six half bathrooms
  • A golf simulator room
  • A soundproof home theater
  • A spa-style fitness suite
  • A sauna and steam room
  • A temperature-controlled wine cellar
  • Multiple executive offices

The property also features a chef’s kitchen with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, marble finishes throughout, and a separate scullery with commercial-grade refrigeration.

The primary suite occupies its own private wing and overlooks the Quail Hollow golf course.

Outside, the estate includes a resort-style pool and spa, a swim-up bar, outdoor fireplaces, multiple dining areas, and a pool house with its own entertainment space.

A private golf cart garage even provides direct access to the Quail Hollow fairways through a gated entrance.

The record-breaking sale highlights the continued growth of Charlotte’s luxury housing market as high-end properties across the region continue attracting wealthy buyers and setting new pricing benchmarks.

FDA Issues Recall for Specialty Drinks Sold in North Carolina Over Salmonella Risk

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FDA Issues Recall for Specialty Drinks Sold in North Carolina Over Salmonella Risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall for specialty drinks sold in North Carolina and 24 other states over possible salmonella contamination.

According to the recall notice, SKS Copack recalled several drink products distributed through cafes, restaurants, and direct delivery services.

Affected items:

Item Code

Brand

Item Description

Lot Code

Best By Date

BIC3010

Angel Specialty Products

MATCHA GREEN TEA 4/3#

20260224

25-Aug-2027

BIC3010

Angel Specialty Products

MATCHA GREEN TEA 4/3#

20260424

23-Oct-2027

BIC3014

Angel Specialty Products

TARO 4/3#

20260224

25-Aug-2027

BIC3001

Angel Specialty Products

CARAMEL LATTE 4/3#

20260414

13-Oct-2027

BIC3013

Angel Specialty Products

COCONUT 4/3#

20260415

14-Oct-2027

BIC3018

Angel Specialty Products

HORCHATA 4/3#

20260414

13-Oct-2027

BIC3018

Angel Specialty Products

HORCHATA 4/3#

20260424

23-Oct-2027

BIC3019

Angel Specialty Products

VANILLA SMOOTHIE BASE 4/

20260413

12-Oct-2027

BIC3020

Angel Specialty Products

WHITE CHOCOLATE 4/3#

20260327

25-Sep-2027

BIC3017

Angel Specialty Products

MILK TEA 15/3#

20260224

25-Aug-2027

CFC2000

Royal Gold

DUTCH MOCHA CAPP 6/2#

20260303

1-Sep-2027

SS115

Angel Specialty Products

STRAWBERRY SOFT SRV 10/2#

20260414

13-Oct-2027

BT360

Boba Time

ITALAIN YOGURT PWDR 5/3.5#

20260216

17-Aug-2027

BT370

Boba Time

COCONUT POWDER – 5/3.5#

20260428

27-Oct-2027

BT371

Boba Time

PISTACHIO POWDER 5/3.5#

20260219

20-Aug-2027

FN1000

FANALE

UBE-TARO 10/2#

20260223

24-Aug-2027

SS500

DENDA

MILK ICE CREAM MX 12/1KG

20260403

2-Oct-2027

CFC1000

Royal Gold

FRENCH VANILLA CAPP 6/2#

20260416

15-Oct-2027

The issue involves milk powder that may be contaminated with salmonella. The recall follows a larger milk powder recall tied to California Dairies Inc. that has affected multiple brands in recent weeks.

Health officials say salmonella symptoms can include:

  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain

In rare cases, infections can become severe and spread into the bloodstream.

Young children, elderly adults, and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious illness.

The recalled products were distributed in states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Texas, and California.

Consumers are advised not to consume affected products and should contact the place of purchase for more information.

National Park Service Offering Free Admission at Parks Near Charlotte This Memorial Day

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National Park Service Offering Free Admission at Parks Near Charlotte This Memorial Day

The National Park Service will waive entrance fees Monday in honor of Memorial Day as parks across the country host ceremonies remembering fallen U.S. service members.

The fee-free day marks the unofficial start of the summer travel season and applies to many national parks, battlefields, historic sites, trails, and memorials across the country.

Several major national parks and historic sites are located within driving distance of Charlotte, including America’s #1 most visited national park.

  • Blue Ridge Parkway — approximately 2 hours from Charlotte
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park — approximately 3 hours away
  • Congaree National Park — approximately 1.5 hours away
  • Kings Mountain National Military Park — approximately 1 hour away
  • Cowpens National Battlefield — approximately 1.5 hours away
  • Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site — approximately 2 hours away
  • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park — approximately 1.5 hours away
  • Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail — trail access points located throughout the Charlotte region
  • Appalachian National Scenic Trail — trail access roughly 2.5 hours from Charlotte in western North Carolina
  • Trail of Tears National Historic Trail — portions accessible across western North Carolina
  • Ninety Six National Historic Site — approximately 2.5 hours from Charlotte

The Blue Ridge Parkway remains one of the region’s most popular scenic drives, stretching 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia.

Meanwhile, Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues ranking as America’s most visited national park because of its mountain views, wildlife, waterfalls, and hiking trails.

South Carolina’s Congaree National Park features one of the nation’s largest remaining old-growth bottomland hardwood forests.

Several Revolutionary War sites near Charlotte, including Kings Mountain, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, and the Overmountain Victory Trail, will also attract visitors during the holiday weekend.

The National Park Service says parks nationwide will host memorial ceremonies, educational programs, and remembrance events throughout Memorial Day weekend.

Additional free admission dates planned for 2026 include:

  • June 14 — Flag Day
  • July 3–5 — Fourth of July weekend
  • Aug. 25 — National Park Service birthday
  • Sept. 17 — Constitution Day
  • Oct. 27 — Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday
  • Nov. 11 — Veterans Day

According to the National Park Service, the fee waivers apply only to U.S. citizens and residents.

Rock Hill Man Federally Indicted Over Threat to President Trump

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Rock Hill Man Federally Indicted Over Threat to President Trump

Rock Hill man has been federally indicted after prosecutors say he posted an online death threat directed at President Donald Trump.

According to federal court records, a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina indicted John Alexander Bellue on two charges:

  • Threat against the President of the United States
  • Interstate communication of a threat to injure

Prosecutors allege Bellue posted the threat on his X social media account in September 2025.

According to the indictment, the post stated:

“@realDonaldTrump you have the right to remain silent, I’m gonna kill you in the most brutal way possible.”

The alleged threat was posted the same day Trump attended the U.S. Open men’s tennis championship in New York City, where he reportedly received both cheers and boos from spectators.

Federal authorities have not publicly released additional details about the investigation or whether Bellue allegedly made any other threatening statements.

Prison records reviewed in both North Carolina and South Carolina do not show prior criminal convictions for Bellue.

The case will now move through the federal court system in South Carolina.

California Evacuates 40,000 Over One Tank — Fort Mill’s Silfab Factory Could Be Catastrophically Worse

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California Evacuates 40,000 Over One Tank — Fort Mill’s Silfab Factory Could Be Catastrophically Worse

A 34,000-gallon tank of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, CA continues to overheat and vent vapors, with 6,000–7,000 gallons at immediate risk of catastrophic spill or explosion. The incident has forced the evacuation of more than 40,000 residents (some reports cite up to 79,000 impacted), closed schools, shut down roads, and prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency.

MMA is a volatile, flammable liquid and respiratory irritant/sensitizer. A large release produces heavy vapors that can travel along the ground, causing widespread eye/throat irritation, dizziness, nausea, and potential asthma-like symptoms. While serious, it is considered a moderate-hazard industrial chemical compared to many others.

Now consider a significantly more severe incident at Silfab Solar’s heavy industrial factory at 7149 Logistics Lane in Fort Mill, located immediately adjacent to Flint Hill Elementary School and near residential neighborhoods and major roadways.

Silfab’s Hazardous Materials Inventory: Vastly More Dangerous Than GKN’s MMA

Silfab’s official Hazardous Materials Inventory System (HMIS) report, DES Air Permit, and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plans all detail massive quantities of chemicals that far exceed MMA in acute toxicity, corrosivity, reactivity, and potential for chain-reaction disasters. The Wastewater Treatment/Chemical storage area is classified as a High-Hazard Group H-3/H-4 occupancy because quantities vastly exceed Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) under the South Carolina Fire Code.

Silfab’s full list of chemicals and the quantities they would need to store on site.

Key chemicals and quantities include:

  • Hydrofluoric Acid: 17,435 gallons in bulk storage
  • Anhydrous Ammonia: 1,020,408 cubic feet in exterior bulk storage
  • Silane Gas (SiH₄): 289,210 cubic feet in tube trailers (pyrophoric)
  • Liquid Oxygen (LOX): 13,000 gallons (powerful oxidizer)
  • Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): 245,614 cubic feet (oxidizing gas)
  • Trimethylaluminum (TMA): 100 gallons in a dedicated 4-hour fire-rated H-3 building (extremely pyrophoric and water-reactive)
  • Phosphorus Oxychloride (POCl₃): 59.4 gallons (plus process quantities; violently water-reactive, releases HCl gas)
  • Boron Trichloride (BCl₃): 1,348 cubic feet (corrosive/toxic gas; reacts with moisture to form HCl fumes)
  • Sulfuric Acid: 1,500 gallons
  • Additional bulk corrosives: Hydrochloric Acid and Potassium Hydroxide at 11,095 gallons each, plus Hydrogen Peroxide at 7,978 gallons.

Real-World Precedents: These Exact Chemicals Have Already Caused Mass Casualties

History shows the deadly consequences of these chemicals — especially when stored or handled in large quantities:

  • Silane Gas: Silane is notoriously pyrophoric and has caused a long history of fatal explosions in semiconductor and solar/PV manufacturing. A 2023 overview of silane incidents documents at least 12 fatalities across major events, including two separate backflow incidents (1988 in the US and 1991 at Osaka University in Japan) that each killed 5 people when nitrous oxide contaminated silane cylinders, creating explosive mixtures. Gas cabinet explosions alone have caused 7 fatalities worldwide between 1976 and 2012, often due to human error during cylinder changes. In solar plants specifically, silane leaks have led to fires, explosions, and worker deaths, including a 2007 incident in India that decapitated a worker and a 2005 Taiwan factory explosion that killed one worker and shut down production for months.
  • Anhydrous Ammonia: In September 2023, a tanker truck carrying anhydrous ammonia overturned in Teutopolis, Illinois, releasing approximately 15,000 liters (~4,000 gallons). The resulting toxic vapor cloud killed five people (including a father and his two young children) and injured seven others. Hundreds of residents within a 1.6 km radius were evacuated. This was from a single tanker — far smaller than Silfab’s stored inventory of over one million cubic feet.
  • Hydrofluoric Acid: A 2015 HF leak in China injured 253 workers, demonstrating the chemical’s ability to cause rapid systemic poisoning, severe burns, and cardiac effects even from limited exposure.
  • Sulfuric Acid: In September 2025 at Hexin Chemical Industry in Henan Province, China, a sulfuric acid leak reacted in a septic tank to produce hydrogen sulfide gas, killing five people in a factory restroom.

These incidents involved the exact same classes of chemicals Silfab stores and uses in much larger volumes.

Why Silfab’s Placement in a Light Industrial Zone Is So Alarming

via Silfab’s HMIS

Silfab’s operation is not light industrial assembly — it is a full-scale chemical manufacturing plant using High-Hazard Group H-3/H-4 processes and quantities. Placing it in a light industrial zone next to an elementary school and residential areas creates unacceptable risk. Real-world accidents prove that leaks, backflows, rollovers, or unintended reactions with these chemicals can kill or injure dozens to hundreds of people in minutes through toxic plumes, fires, explosions, and systemic poisoning.

A failure at Silfab could trigger cascading reactions: TMA or silane igniting spontaneously and being supercharged by LOX or nitrous oxide; POCl₃ or boron trichloride releasing HCl gas clouds; HF causing delayed cardiac arrests; ammonia forming ground-hugging lethal plumes; and sulfuric acid generating exothermic steam explosions and acidic mists.

Community impacts could be devastating:

  • Children at Flint Hill Elementary facing immediate corrosive burns, respiratory failure, or cardiac effects from HF.
  • Nearby homes and residents suffering toxic contamination and long-term health damage.
  • Drivers on Logistics Lane and I-77 trapped in drifting plumes, leading to mass casualties and accidents.

Previous smaller releases at Silfab (KOH spill and HF leak in March 2026) already preceded school closures and 911 surges, including vomiting blood, trouble breathing, and seizures. A major event would dwarf the current Garden Grove crisis.

The Garden Grove incident shows how seriously even moderate chemicals like MMA are treated. Silfab’s far more hazardous mix, operating in improper zoning near sensitive populations, represents an unacceptable public safety risk that demands immediate action.

South Carolina Ranks Among Most Accident-Prone States for Hazardous Materials Transport

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South Carolina Ranks Among Most Accident-Prone States for Hazardous Materials Transport

New analysis of federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) data shows America’s hazardous materials transport incidents have skyrocketed — up 84.8% since 2010 — with highway trucking responsible for the overwhelming majority of the chaos.

A detailed five-year review (April 2021–April 2026) by Trace One reveals more than 119,000 highway hazmat incidents nationwide, dwarfing rail, air, and water transport combined.

Corrosives and flammable liquids dominate the spill lists, and the consequences are getting uglier: injuries, hospitalizations, evacuations, and millions in damages.

via U.S. Department of Transportation

Over the past 5 years, South Carolina had a total of 1,336 total hazmat transit incidents, resulting in $13,223,021 in total damages, with the most common hazmat incident involving corrosive substances, according to the report.

Our state’s booming manufacturing and logistics corridor — anchored by the I-77 and I-85 corridors that feed directly into Charlotte — puts it squarely in the crosshairs of this national crisis. And now one local factory is preparing to dramatically escalate the risk.

Silfab Solar’s Toxic Chemical Cocktail Is Coming by Truck

At the Silfab Solar plant in Fort Mill — literally feet from Flint Hill Elementary School’s playgrounds — the company is ramping up full-scale TOPCon solar cell manufacturing. Their heavy industrial factory requires over 1 million lbs of some of the most dangerous substances on the PHMSA watch list, including:

  • Hydrofluoric acid (HF)
  • Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
  • Silane gas
  • Anhydrous ammonia
  • Phosphrus Oxyhclroide 
  • Boron Trichloride
  • Trimethylaluminum 
  • Potassium Hydroxide 
  • Liquid Oxygen

These chemicals aren’t just sitting in tanks. They arrive by truck, get stored on-site, get used in production, and generate waste that must be hauled away. Every single truck movement adds another potential spill point along South Carolina highways that already see thousands of hazmat shipments annually.

We’ve already seen what happens when things go wrong at Silfab. In March 2026, a potassium hydroxide spill triggered a hazmat response that required 300,000 gallons of hazmat waste to be disposed of. Days later, a hydrofluoric acid leak forced a two-day closure of nearby schools. There have also been a steady stream of 911 calls at the factory for breathing problems, chest pain, and other symptoms consistent with exposure to these exact chemicals.

Fort Mill residents didn’t ask to have their risk increased (hazardous treatment and storage facilities, like Silfab, are actually prohibited in Fort Mill, according to York County’s zoning code), but in spite of the law, York County Chairwoman Christi Cox and manager Josh Edwards are continuing to allow Silfab, without zoning compliance, to truck in hundreds of thousands of gallons of dozens of highly toxic and explosive chemicals into Fort Mill, turning the region into a constant high-stakes gamble.

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