On November 19, the Pennsylvania Solar Center and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services announced the release of a free guidebook to help Pennsylvania municipalities navigate large-scale solar development processes, including zoning, ordinances, permitting, and incentives.

Background

With growing requests for development of large-scale solar and the need to add more energy resources to the electrical grid to meet growing energy demands, Pennsylvania municipalities should prepare themselves with common-sense regulations.

This guidebook provides an overview of what is coming in the world of solar development in Pennsylvania, and it also offers a model solar ordinance to assist municipalities who are seeking more tools to help them adapt.

The resource also addresses agrivoltaics – the dual use of farming and solar – as well as benefits to local communities provided by solar.

“Many other states have been reaping the rewards from municipal large-scale solar development for some time, and we wanted the guidebook to share what’s worked for them, so Pennsylvania doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel,” said Sharon Pillar, Founder and Executive Director of the PA Solar Center. “This user-friendly guide helps to streamline and de-mystify the process for municipalities who are helping our state achieve energy independence.”

Michael Parker, Executive Director and Managing Attorney at Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, oversaw the legal team that researched and compiled the information contained within the guidebook and helped lead a collaborative interview process to ensure the guidebook integrates the perspectives of stakeholders across the solar value chain.

“While this chapter in Pennsylvania history is transformational, it is relatively new and may be daunting for municipal officials and leadership,” said Parker. “Our municipal guidebook helps answer their commonly asked questions about the large-scale solar development process and how it can strengthen communities.”

According to the region’s electricity grid coordinator, PJM Interconnection, there are hundreds of large-scale solar projects being proposed across Pennsylvania.

Combined with incentives from the federal Inflation Reduction Act, and the fact that large-scale solar is now the least expensive form of electricity, energy companies around the world are expanding their solar operations through large-scale and community solar projects.

Many have their eyes set on Pennsylvania due to its abundance of land and proximity to electricity transmission lines – and have been approaching municipalities to potentially lease their land.

Leasing land is also an opportunity for municipalities to access annual streams of income. 

The urgent need to expand energy generation in Pennsylvania is reinforced by an announcement by PJM Interconnection – the grid operator for Pennsylvania and 12 other states plus Washington, DC – which stated that electricity prices could increase as much as 29% next year.

One remedy for this would be to speed up approvals for solar energy projects waiting to join the grid. Solar energy costs are stable over time and help to reduce peak energy demand.

Meeting peak energy demand requires some of the most expensive energy generation on the grid – and municipalities play a crucial role in solving this problem.

Click Here for a copy of the new Guidebook.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit effort to raise the awareness of the benefits of solar energy in Pennsylvania. Click Here to sign up for regular updates.

Resource Links:

-- Municipal Officials’ Guide To Grid-Scale Solar Development In PA

-- Guidebook For PA Landowners - Leasing Property For Large-Scale Solar Development

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NewsClips:

-- TribLive Guest Essay: My School District Saved Over A Million Dollars In Energy Costs By Going Solar, With Solar For Schools Your District Could Be Next - By Carlisle Area School District

-- Altoona Mirror: Central Cambria School District Considering Solar Energy To Save Up to $500,000 Over Next 25 Years

-- Centre Daily Times: Centre County Solar Energy Facility Takes Big Step Forward As State College Area School District Commits To Project

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[Posted: November 19, 2024]

11/25/2024