RIDGWAY — More than 50 people, many residents living in the vicinity of the property of Jared Kuleck at 1670 Montmorenci Road in Ridgway — the site of the proposed solar electric facility — attended the Ridgway Township Zoning Board Hearing on Monday, Aug. 19. The crowd was relocated from the conference room to the larger garage portion of the building for the meeting. The purpose of the gathering was to hear testimony from the applicant requesting permission to establish a solar electric energy facility in a Residential Agricultural (RA) District.

According to the advertised notice of the meeting, “Ridgway Township Ordinance Number 120, section B and C may allow consideration of a solar facility in an RA District as a Special Exception requiring the approval of the Ridgway Township Zoning Hearing Board, and all interested parties may appear at such hearing and be heard.”

Gus Abalo, developer applicant from Penn Renewables, and Eli Bracken with SWCA Environmental Consultants from Pittsburgh, gave testimony concerning the location, scope, and potential environmental impacts of the proposed solar electric energy facility and stated their belief that they have met all the requirements and standards set forth in the zoning ordinance.

Abalo, also co-owner of SR1 Captura Sage Holdco of San Francisco, explained that the proposed area where the solar panels will be located is treeless, and that the panels will be mounted on steel supports 12 feet off the ground with a meadow underneath where pollinator habitats will be planted.

“We’re going to plant it with native wildflowers and grass species to promote pollinator species in the area, so bees, moths, and small birds (will be attracted to them),” Abalo said. “Studies have shown that this increases the crop yields of local farmers located up to a five-mile radius of the site. We have a botanist who will come out and choose species that won’t grow past the edge of the panels, and to perform maintenance and mowing as needed.”

Abalo noted that at the end of the solar project’s life in an estimated 30 or 40 years, the company is bonded for the removal and recycling of the panels and the steel pilings on which the panels are mounted. The site is currently being utilized as a hay farm, and it would be returned to being a hay farm when the panels are removed.

The solar panels will generate electricity using the energy collected from the sun, and the electricity will be sold to First Energy. Abalo commented that “The more supply you have locally, it’s going to provide a cushion to price increases. It makes your grid more resilient. So, in cases of extreme power usage, you’re going to see less flickers. You won’t see blackouts … because you have local generation.”

Abalo’s testimony also stated that there would be no electrical disturbances associated with the solar farm, no glare from lighting devices, no noise traveling beyond the 32-acre property lines, no stormwater runoff, and eight-foot fencing will be installed to keep wildlife and people away from the area. He also mentioned that there will not be any employees at the site on a daily basis, and that the panels will be monitored remotely.

When asked about a magnetic field around the solar energy farm, Abalo said, “There is no magnetic field that is of any concern. Keep in mind, the Pennsylvania legislature just passed a Solar for Schools program where they’re encouraging and giving grant money to public schools throughout the state to put solar systems on their property. They did extensive studies on what the effects would be on children, obviously, before a bipartisan legislature just passed it a couple of weeks ago. So, there’s a million things you can read online that’ll send you down rabbit holes about lots of bad things, but your legislature just approved (the placement of solar electric systems) for elementary, junior high and high schools.”

Residents who intended to speak at the meeting were required to be sworn in and were asked to state their name for the record.

The comments made by many of the residents included:

  • A concern that being located near this solar farm would devalue their homes.
  • The belief that there could be negative effects on the health of those living near the facility.
  • Most of the remarks by residents included “Not in my backyard!”
  • Amanda Balon of Big Maple Farms asked about noise levels and the effect on chickens and other farm animals.

Many who spoke mentioned that no residents nor the township will realize any gains from this solar electric facility except the property owner of the land on which it is located.

The Zoning Hearing Board has 45 days to determine if the developer has demonstrated compliance with all of the conditions set forth in the ordinance, at which time another public meeting will be scheduled.