Smith Township supervisors reject solar farm request
Smith Township supervisors on Monday voted against a conditional use approval request for a solar farm.
Susquehanna Solar LLC, a South Carolina-based company, sought the approval in its bid to build a 60-acre solar farm on a portion of a 291-acre property off Route 18 that is zoned A-1 rural residential.
The company’s request was unanimously denied by the board.
About 60 residents attended the special meeting at the Slovan VFW.
Opponents of the solar project, who had expressed concerns about property value and how the company would handle issues such as broken panels and potential fires, applauded after supervisors denied the permit.
Susquehanna Solar Director of Operations Jon Wadsworth said the company is evaluating its options, but did not say whether it plans to appeal the board’s decision.
The decision was “based on the evidence and testimony that was submitted at the public hearing on this matter,” said Gavin Robb, an attorney with Tucker Arensberg, which represented the township.
In August, the Smith Township planning commission recommended approval of Susquehanna’s application, but attached seven conditions, including conducting a historical review of the property, coordinating with Burgettstown Area School District for construction and equipment traffic to make sure it doesn’t impact school dropoff and pickup times, and conducting a sound impact study.
Supervisors held a several hours-long public hearing in August that resumed in September, drawing about 100 people. During the hearing, Susquehanna representatives said the 94,000-solar panel array would produce electricity that would be sent to West Penn Power’s local power grid for distribution. The life span of the solar farm was expected to be around 25 years.