Zoning board holds public hearing on potential solar farm in Nicholson Township
Residents raise concern about droughts, cancer and conflicts of interest
The Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board held a public hearing in regards to granting a special exception to a Maryland-based energy company that wants to build nearly 50,000 solar panels in Nicholson Township.
About 60 people filed into the meeting room at the former Gallatin Bank Building in Uniontown on Wednesday as the board listened to testimony on behalf of Bollinger Solar LLC and listened to public comment.
Bollinger Solar LLC is seeking a special exception so it can construct 49,680 solar panels at 192 Woodside Old Farm Road in Smithfield which is classified as an A-1 Agricultural Rural District.
Attorney Tyler Beaso, who was there on behalf of Bollinger Solar, stated that the company was in compliance with state and federal regulations and met the criteria for a special exception.
“A special exception is not an actual exception to the law or an ordinance,” Beaso said. “A special exception is a use that is permitted by right, subject to certain enumerated criteria that are set forth in an ordinance.”
Beaso went on to say that the solar company was, and would continue, to be in compliance with the criteria set by the county’s ordinance.
Robert Allen Crowe, whose property would be adjacent to the solar farm, is a cancer survivor who brought up concerns about the possibility of the panels causing cancer.
“Is there going to be any radiation emitted from these panels, whether it was alpha rays or gamma? Have they done surveys, and are you going to survey everyone to make sure they aren’t going to be exposed to radiation?” he asked.
Jarod Martin, director of operations for Bollinger Solar said the panels would not emit radiation nor cause cancer because the panels would use mostly a “monocrystalline photovoltaic cell” which is mostly silicon. Martin said that previously solar panels or other solar companies may have used materials that if damaged could cause cancer.
When asked why this particular area was chosen to construct the solar farm, Martin said the unused farmland was an ideal site that would be out of the way of the residents.
“Solar (panels) do well on some of the slopes that we’re going to have here – and in addition – because of the nature of the slope it should help (the panels) be less visible from any other neighborhood properties,” Martin said.
Martin also addressed concerns about noise. He said any noise would only occur during operational hours – likely between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. – and would be about 50 decibels of noise. He said that level is generally considered quiet.
Several residents addressed the fact that the property on which the proposed solar farm would be built belongs to a holding company, Fox Ridge Holdings LLC, that is owned by the township’s solicitor Douglas S. Sholtis.
Zoning board solicitor Wendy O’Brien addressed the accusations that Sholtis’ involvement is a conflict of interest.
“You understand that the zoning hearing is not aligned with (Sholtis), and we’re a separate entity from your township. He has no voting rights here,” she said.
Michael Glebis said he was concerned that the extra heat generated by the solar panels would have an adverse impact on the area.
“We’ve had droughts, possible risks of wildfire throughout the county and you’re cutting trees down … .Would that increase droughts throughout our area, as bad as it is now?”
Martin said he was not aware of any studies about the impact of local weather but said he “was not a meteorologist.”
State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, who grew up in Nicholson Township, showed up to lend her support to residents who opposed the solar farm.
“The people here today are not against solar energy or renewable technology, what we oppose is the inappropriate location of this industrial project and the negative consequences that it will bring to the character, safety of the community,” she said.
The zoning board will make a decision on the petition at a later date.