Girard Township continues to discuss future of proposed solar farm amid resident concerns – WJAC Johnstown

Clearfield County, PA — Lots of questions and answers at the Girard Township meeting, in Clearfield County, on Wednesday over a proposed solar farm project in the area.

“We’ve been in the community a long time, with a lot of different studies. Lots and lots of studies have been done and were trying to put the pieces together to figure out if this is viable.”

Swift Current Energy is the company looking to establish the solar farm. Company representatives say they are willing to see what they can do to work with residents who say they think the project will affect them negatively.

“Why do they, three generations later, can make tens/hundreds of more millions of dollars. For us it’s just not fair, for us people that actually live here.” says one resident.

Residents say they are concerned about home value, restricted mobility of wildlife, concerns over reflectivity of the solar panels, deforestation, and that Swift Current Energy officials say the power will be routed through New York.

Swift Current Energy officials say the reason a portion of the power is going to New York is because the electrical grid infrastructure there is more suitable.

Clearfield County commissioner Dave Glass tells me this situation is not as bad as it seems. He says a permit for the project has already been signed and there is only so much that can be done to influence plans.

“These are on private lands. There is no zoning. It was properly dealt with at both township meetings a couple years ago. I understand, you know, some people sometimes are frustrated when things go near them that they may be don’t want or don’t like, but in this case, I don’t see a real case for public harm like I would if they were drilling into water or doing some kind of deep shaft mine.” Glass says.

Electric company officials also say that batteries and panels laid near transmission lines would not be an issue because leakage would go to designated storage ponds away from drinking sources. They say involving batteries with the project is an idea at this point.

“There’s gonna be more because we are on a lot of transmission lines. We have a lot of strip mines. That’s exactly what they’re looking for.” said legal experts at the meeting.

Swift Current Energy officials say the next meeting regarding the proposed solar farm will take place at the Lecontes Mills Fire Hall on August 28th from 3 PM to 8 pm.

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