Solar farm proposals in Buffalo Township generate community pushback

An Atlanta-based company wants to build two solar farms in Buffalo Township, which would be the first in the community.

Township supervisors will hold a public hearing next month on whether to grant conditional uses to two entities owned by SolAmerica.

Approval would inch the firm closer to installing solar panels on a 19-acre parcel at 152 Grimm Road and an 81-acre parcel at 254 Bear Creek Road.

Both are undeveloped. The township zoning code lists solar farms as a conditional use within agricultural zones.

Officials likely will hear from detractors, such as Lynn Shearer, at the June meeting.

“This came with no warning,” said Shearer, whose family has lived on Monroe Road in Buffalo Township for five generations. He heard about the solar farm after the Buffalo Township supervisors meeting May 14.

Shearer expressed concern about potential glare from the solar panels and how they will connect to the electrical system.

“I don’t see any positives to this at all,” Shearer said. “I don’t think it’s the proper way to utilize the space.”

Shearer has a track record of advocating to preserve the township’s rural character. He spoke with TribLive in February 2024 about a Verizon cell tower that was set to be installed within 400 feet of his home.

“I want to see the farmland here stay farmland,” he said.

The grassy patch along Grimm Road being eyed by SolAmerica belongs to David Kane, who lives in a housing plan across from the proposed site. Kane said he received interest in leasing the land from two other solar companies.

He declined to comment further for fear it could impact his agreement with SolAmerica.

Bob Buterbaugh, another resident who will be within feet of the solar farm, expressed a “balance of emotions.”

“I’m not excited about it,” said Buterbaugh, who voiced concerns such as decreasing property values and the longevity of solar farms.

With hesitation, he did express interest in a renewable energy source being installed in Buffalo Township. In this case, though, he is unhappy about the installation being so close to his home.

Buterbaugh is an alternate on the Buffalo Township Planning Commission, and he became the Republican nominee for township supervisor last week. He will vacate the planning role if he prevails in the general election.

He stated his personal feelings toward the solar farms would not play a role in the event his vote is needed in either capacity.

“This is still the time (for the community) to voice their concerns,” Buterbaugh said. “If their concerns are valid, then we would put a halt to any solar farm.”

Buterbaugh portrayed himself as a conservationist, sharing his desire to “conserve the beautiful land we have in Buffalo Township.”

SolAmerica’s website describes the company as “a leading provider of turn-key solar energy and storage solutions” that specializes in “development and engineering, procurement and construction of ground-mount, rooftop and parking canopy solar systems designed to meet the distributed generation needs of utilities and large commercial and industrial facilities.”

Alviez Chagan, a project development manager for SolAmerica, said the projects would involve the installation of hundreds of 4-foot wide by 8-feet tall solar panels. The panels would rotate throughout the day to attract the most sunlight possible.

Andrew Kane, an associate engineer at Pennoni Engineering, which is working with the solar company, assured residents “we go in with the idea of creating the least amount of disturbance possible.”

According to the information provided to the supervisors, the smaller solar site at Grimm Road is projected to generate 1.5 megawatts of electricity. The actual generating equipment would be sheltered in an enclosed 8-acre site.

The Bear Creek Road site would generate 2 megawatts with the equipment sheltered in a 12-acre enclosure.

These two sites are SolAmerica’s first in Western Pennsylvania, although they have several projects pending in other parts of the state.