Solar power battle brewing in North Huntingdon
North Huntingdon could be the site of the next battle over whether a utility-scale solar power farm can be built to comply with municipal zoning ordinances.
Bear Park North Huntingdon LLC of Denver is appealing a decision by Thomas McGuire, township zoning officer, denying the solar power company’s request to build a utility-scale solar power array on 30 to 40 acres of the Schade family farm along Schade Hill Road, said Paul Schade, one of the six farm owners.
The zoning hearing board is scheduled to consider the appeal in a hearing at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 at the North Huntingdon Town House.
McGuire denied the permit on the grounds that a solar power farm in an area zoned for residential purposes is not an essential service. The township zoning ordinance permits accessory buildings and structures in all of the five different residential zoning classifications.
McGuire could not be reached for comment. Chris Vorlicek, director of development for Bear Peak Power, could not be reached for comment.
Representatives from Bear Peak Power approached the family about building the solar farm behind an old barn on part of the family’s 400-acre property, Schade said. The company would sell the power generated by the solar farm to FirstEnergy Corp., he added.
The money a property owner could receive through a solar power lease is typically more per acre than the money realized through agricultural uses, Bear Peak says on its website.
Once a project is developed and constructed, it provides a reliable revenue stream for more than two decades, the company stated.
Bear Peak Power has created three North Huntingdon companies. As an indication of its interest in clean energy initiatives, it has registered 56 companies with the Pennsylvania Department of State since September 2021. Among them are three in Rostraver and others in Allegheny, Bedford, and Somerset counties.
North Huntingdon’s rejection of the permit request is the second time a solar power project has been denied in recent months in the county.
The Unity zoning board voted 3-2 on Dec. 18 to reject a special exception permit for a 20-acre solar project to be built on agricultural land along Charles Houck Road. That vote occurred after four public hearings with about 12 hours of testimony.
There has not been an appeal of the Unity zoning board decision, according to Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas records.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at [email protected].
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