Buffalo Township supervisors voted to table a decision at their monthly meeting on June 11, to grant Atlanta-based energy company SolAmerica a conditional use permit to operate solar farms on two sites in the township.

SolAmerica — which applied as “Butler County PA S2” and “Butler County PA S3” — sought permits to operate solar farms at parcels of land along Grimm and Bear Creek roads. The two parcels total nearly 100 acres, with the Grimm Road property at 19.25 acres and the Bear Creek Road property at 80 acres, although the planned size of the actual facilities would be much smaller.

Supervisor Michael Oehling said the discussion regarding the solar properties lasted until roughly 10 p.m., three and a half hours after the public hearing began at 6:30. Oehling told the Butler Eagle that the supervisors voted to table the discussion to “digest” the large amount of input they received that night regarding both proposed properties.

Township residents packed the municipal building that night to express various concerns about the proposed developments, including potential fires, negative environmental impacts, glare from the sun, and negative impact on property values.

“A lot of people had a lot of things to say,” Oehling said.

The public hearings for the two properties last week were the first major test of an ordinance Buffalo Township implemented last September to regulate solar energy facilities.

The next Buffalo Township board of supervisors meeting is scheduled for July 9.