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Generally clear skies. Low 36F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: May 10, 2026 @ 11:19 pm
Officials and concerned residents gathered at the Warren County Courthouse for the planning approval hearing.
A proposed solar farm will be built behind Happ’s Discount Grocery store on Route 6.
Officials and concerned residents gathered at the Warren County Courthouse for the planning approval hearing.
WARREN — Warren County Planning and Zoning Commission has approved the planning of a solar farm on Route 6 in Columbus Township, despite pushback from local residents.
During an approval hearing at the Warren County Courthouse on Tuesday, supporters and opposition alike gathered in the Jackson Courtroom to await a decision.
“This was not a meeting of public appeal, only a vote on the requirements of the project,” said Chairman of the Planning Committee Paul Pascuzzi.
A proposed solar farm will be built behind Happ’s Discount Grocery store on Route 6.
After much deliberation, presentation and public commentary, the commission’s votes were cast in favor of the farm’s planning requirements, meaning construction may soon begin.
“This isn’t about ‘can we do it’, this is about if the conditions provide for the project,” said Planning Director Michael Lyon.
The approval means the project now has the ability to begin breaking ground and start construction, as this was a final approval from planning entities within Warren County.
The project leader, referred to as Warren SIX LLC in the official agenda of the commission, plans to construct a 15-acre solar farm behind Happ’s Discount Grocery store on Route 6.
Despite the fact that public commentary was not the basis of the meeting, locals almost entirely from Columbus Township were in attendance. No members of the Columbus Township Supervisors were present at the hearing. Residents in the area around where the proposed solar farm will be built spoke their mind on the matter.
“There is no deforestation because the build site is on multi-generational farmland,” said Maggie Curtis. “You are taking five tons of corn per acre off of the table. Why does big money fund projects like this, but refuse to help those of us who produce food?”
Several local landowners complained they are regularly solicited by companies to erect solar farms on their properties, despite showing no interest in the matter.
“An eight-foot fence, and 12-foot solar panels will change everything about the landscape of the area,” said Columbus resident Nicole Mendivar. “Are our taxes taxes going to change? Our kids play around that area. How safe will it be for them? I’m also concerned about solar farms emitting a constant hum.”
Other locals suggested different sites to build on that are less of public concern.
“You’re putting this right in peoples’ front yards,” said Columbus Township resident Nick Heil. There are plenty of secluded fields to build on that don’t effect the area as much.”
As stated by the commission, the open commentary was allowed to take place, but all comments were answered in the same manner by the commission and project team.
Comments from the public were not answered in detail, and after answering several questions from the crowd, the project leaders declined further comment.
The entity giving testimony with its legal team operated under another name and proprietor from South Florida. The entity with overall operation of the project is unknown. After answering several questions from concerned residents, the representatives declined further comment.
Before falling silent, the proprietor stated that they are funded through “insurance companies and sourced bank funds, among other entities.”
The topic of the meeting was focused toward project requirement approval, not the entities involved in detail. Most information presented was brought forward by a legal team associated with the project. Minimal information about the company Warren SIX LLC is publicly available online.
According to the legal counsel of the project: the project will cost around $6 or $7 million, and could increase. To elevate the panels, 12 to 15 foot pedestals will be installed underneath, as to not disturb the land as much as possible. The plan would be breaking ground around fall of this year, pending approval, and construction will take about two months. Solar farms of this type have a lifespan of 20 to 40 years.
An emergency response plan that will involve the Corry Fire Department and Columbus Fire Department was also mentioned as part of the project to fulfill safety concerns in event of emergencies on the property.
A transport plan was also devised to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for use of state and municipal roads in relation to the project.
When pressed repeatedly about far-reaching consequences of the project.
The project’s legal counsel also addressed environmental concerns by stating: the energy will go back into the grid and no deforestation will occur during the proposed project. The land can return to agriculture at any time, if the farm ends up being decommissioned. A decommission of the farm can happen after around 18 months of no power produced. The farm’s production will degrade over time. There is no chemical leak involved, and the parts used can be recycled. After a glare analysis, wit was determined there will be zero glare from this farm’s location.
The project itself falls under the municipalities code authority for land development, which is administered by the Warren County Board of Commissions. None of the Warren County Board of Commissioners at the hearing, as the specific issue was approval of zoning requirements, which greenlight the project if approved
“Decisions were made beyond the planning commission,” said Pascuzzi. “Those who made the ordnance as it stands aren’t here. They made these choices, we are here simply to vote on the approval of requirements in this project’s application,” said Pascuzzi.
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