Hempfield solar farm gets green light

A Colorado firm’s plans to construct a solar system farm in Hempfield were approved by supervisors last week.

Bear Peak Hempfield intends to build a 3,000 kilowatt facility on an 86-acre property off Penn Valley Road, said Matthew Pernelli, township planning manager.

“It will be distributing the power to West Penn Power,” he said.

The township’s planning commission recommended supervisors approve the plans. The location is south of Interstate 70 near Hunker.

“This private entity is selling power back to the grid, it’s a solar farm,” said township manager Aaron Siko.

The project is not Bear Peak Power’s first foray into Westmoreland County or Pennsylvania.

In January, the firm, under Bear Peak North Huntingdon, won zoning approval in the township where it intends to build a solar power system on 30 acres of farmland on Schade Hill Road.

Bear Peak has registered more than 50 companies with the Pennsylvania Department of State since September 2021, including Bear Peak Hempfield. Some are based in Allegheny, Bedford, Westmoreland and Somerset counties.

Documents filed with the Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds indicate Hempfield property owner Robert A. Casale agreed to work with Bear Peak Hempfield to allow a solar farm on about 43 acres of the Penn Valley Road land. The property is zoned agricultural. It was unclear how many solar panels would be constructed.

On its website, Bear Peak Power said lease rates can vary across the country, but landowners can earn more per acre for solar use than from agricultural. Such a project would provide a revenue stream for 20 years or more. No one from Bear Peak Power returned a message Friday.

A similar proposed project in Unity met resistance last year after the township’s zoning hearing board denied a special exception GreenKey Solar needed under rules for land zoned for agricultural use. The decision came after at least a dozen hours of testimony during four hearings.