New legislation could impact county solar projects
Recent legislative developments at both the national and state level could throw Pennsylvania’s solar-powered future into question.
On Monday, Aug. 18, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced they would no longer use taxpayer money to put solar panels on “productive farmland,” nor would they allow solar panels manufactured by “foreign adversaries” to be used in USDA-funded projects.
According to a news release from the agency, these actions are intended to preserve farmland across the nation.
Earlier this year, Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-33rd, introduced Senate Bill 336, which proposes a ban on the installation of solar facilities on “prime agricultural land.” The bill would encourage developers to instead build solar facilities on alternative sites, such as brownfields and old industrial sites, through tax incentives.
As of August, the bill has yet to be voted on.
“SB 336 is under review in the Ag & Rural Affairs Committee,” said Lily Ott, speaking on behalf of state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th. “There is currently no timeline for consideration.”
Despite his own misgivings about solar construction on agricultural land, Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, told the Butler Eagle he doesn’t expect the bill to gain much traction.
“I don’t see this bill moving forward,” Bernstine said. “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should not dictate to individual people and local municipalities what they can and can’t do with their private land. For Harrisburg to push down what people can do with their private land... that doesn’t represent conservative values or limited government values.”
The bill comes just as some municipalities in Butler County are looking to tap into the potential revenue of large-scale solar installations.
On Aug. 13, Buffalo Township’s board of supervisors granted a conditional use approval to SolAmerica to build solar installations at a 19.25-acre parcel on Grimm Road and an 80-acre parcel on Bear Creek Road.
The vote passed despite widespread opposition from residents who expressed concerns regarding potential environmental contamination from solar panel materials, a possible reduction of property values and other negative quality-of-life impacts.
Muddy Creek Township has also made a commitment to allow a solar energy installation within its borders. In March, the township board of supervisors gave their blessing to Colorado-based Korsail Energy to lease 120 acres on Burnside Road for a 4.5-megawatt solar facility.
In addition, Jefferson Township is currently looking over a proposal from Sunvest Solar for a solar installation at Riemer Road and Winfield Road. At a meeting Aug. 11, the township’s board of supervisors stated that the plans were currently “administratively incomplete.”
There currently exists a solar array near Moraine State Park, which was christened in 2018. However, the park uses it only to power its sewage treatment plant and does not send the energy to the grid.
