FREEBURG — More than 60 people showed up at Monday night’s meeting to discuss concerns about the impact of a planned solar farm near Freeburg borough’s water treatment plant.
Brookfield Renewable has received all necessary permits to install two solar farms on 323 acres of land in Washington Township, with one of the projects planned on a 113-acre site that will place solar panels within about 300 feet of Freeburg borough’s two public wells and water treatment facility. Construction is expected to be completed next summer.
“The two wells are the most important part of Freeburg Municipal Authority’s water system. There are no backups, so maintaining their health and viability is crucial,” Freeburg council President Catherine Dent said at the meeting held at the Freeburg-Washington Community Center.
Since Washington Township has no ordinances governing solar farms, officials there had no say in where the project would be located.
“We are working with state legislators, but there’s not much they can do,” Dent said.
State Rep. David Rowe suggested Freeburg borough officials ask Brookfield Renewable to put up a bond to cover any issues with the public water supply and for decommissioning the panels.
Dent said a company official assured her the solar project is “a safe use of the land” which prompted her to respond that a bond should be an easy guarantee.
“We’re trying to get (the company) to step up to the plate so taxpayers won’t be left holding the bag,” said Tom Gingrich, council member and president of the municipal authority.
Dent told the crowd at Monday’s meeting that’s where they come in.
“This show of support and concern is our only way” of convincing the company to put up a bond and financially guarantee the project will not harm the water supply, she said.
Resident David Whitmer asked if Washington Township is joining Freeburg in requesting a bond from the solar firm.
“What about the county commissioners? What have they done to help?” asked resident Fred Moyer.
In the audience, Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz said little help is available since zoning can not keep solar farms out completely and solar companies are able to offer farmers lots of money to lease or sell land.
“You’ve got to stop the greed,” he said.
In addition to encouraging residents to attend a community meeting on the planned solar farms with members of Brookfield Renewable energy team members at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 30 at the community center, Freeburg officials asked anyone concerned about the lack of solar farm regulation in Pennsylvania to contact state legislators.
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