ZELIENOPLE — The push for more solar energy in the borough will have to wait awhile.

Borough council Monday evening tabled a vote to advertise an ordinance amending solar energy usage in the borough.

“It’s somewhat of a gray area issue,” borough manager Don Pepe said.

The ordinance would increase limits for solar energy usage from 5 kilowatts to 25 kW for residential developments and 500 kW for commercial developments.

The requirement for ownership would be eliminated with the updated ordinance as well. Solar systems can now be owned or leased.

If businesses produce more energy than they consume, the borough will give them an energy credit for the next billing month. Excess energy credits at the end of a 12-month period set by the borough will be credited in dollars.

Council members were concerned about the language in the proposed ordinance.

Council member Mary Hess said, “For me, this seems vague. I would just like to see a well-written ordinance that makes it clear and concise. We need to know what we’re doing.”

Council members will talk with the borough’s electrical engineers.

“I don’t want to pass it (ordinance) only to change it again,” council President Allen Bayer said.

Discussion for changing the ordinance began after the Baierl Ford dealership installed a solar panel grid on its Zelienople branch expansion.

But those 50-kilowatt panels, installed by Pittsburgh-based company Scalo Solar Solutions, have not been approved by the borough and do not meet the borough’s ordinance.

Pepe said the grid was not in the company’s original plans.

PennFuture, an environmental advocacy group, also sent a letter to the borough criticizing it for its limits on solar power.

Two businesses in the borough have solar panels which do meet the ordinance. They are Dilts Enterprises LLC and Jack Hockenburger Motors.

Pepe said he believes the ordinance will pass soon.

“We have never been against solar power,” he said. “I would think that this ordinance as it is, is well-suited.”

The proposed ordinance aims to be fair to both the borough and companies wanting to have solar power by addressing issues Scalo Solar has with the current ordinance’s limitations, council members said.

“If it (ordinance) doesn’t address those issues, they (contractor) may turn their efforts back on with the borough,” Bayer said. “It’s a fair ordinance, but if they don’t perceive it as fair, are they going to be more aggressive in the future?”