Penn Township commissioners consider updating solar regulations

Penn Township commissioners will consider whether to make some adjustments to the ordinance regulating solar installations later this month.

The board of commissioners and staff discussed the possibility of adding language addressing commercial solar installations at the township’s caucus meeting Wednesday, spurred by a proposal for a “solar farm” on property that is partially located in the township.

“Residential solar is regulated by our current ordinance, but commercial solar ‘farms’ are not,” township Manager Mary Perez said.

Perez said both she and Commissioner Chuck Konkus attended a Westmoreland Conservation District workshop about a year ago where they saw sample ordinances from other Pennsylvania towns that have opted to regulate larger-scale solar arrays.

Nearby Hempfield, for example, has a solar ordinance.

“It addresses things like screening and landscaping, it doesn’t allow advertising to be part of it, and it also says that if ownership changes, the township is to be notified,” Perez said.

Konkus said he felt the notification clause was an important component to consider.

Commissioner Jeffrey Shula agreed, and said he would like to see a procedure for decommissioning outdated solar arrays.

“My thoughts run more toward what we do when something is no longer in use,” Shula said.

Perez said Hempfield’s ordinance does not govern commercial solar arrays.

Solicitor Michael Korns agreed that language about decommissioning would be worth considering, and asked the commissioners to direct staff in developing an ordinance update.

“If there are specific things you want to see in an ordinance, let us know,” he said. “We can sort of go in any direction you want, so long as you do provide for their use. You can’t ban them, but you can specify the zoning districts you want them in.”

The commissioners do not vote at caucus meetings. The monthly business meeting will take place at 7 p.m. April 17 at the municipal building, 2001 Municipal Court in the township’s Harrison City neighborhood.