Representatives from Lehigh Anthracite presented a preliminary plan to Tamaqua borough for a bagging plant and retail area along Route 209 near the current mining operation.

According to Kevin Fruck, representing Lehigh Anthracite, this would alleviate the need for customers to drive into the mining area.

Fruck said the proposed project will add 10 jobs, as well as improve safety for retail customers.

The developers asked borough council to consider granting waivers for information that will be also be provided to the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to secure permits from them.

This will avoid duplicating efforts, and also, relief from the requirement to inform all neighbors within 100 feet of the proposed project, as the majority of that property is already owned by the same company.

Council approved the requests, pending the review and receipt of any other additional information required. Councilman Brian Connely said this project is being made possible by the City Revitalization and Improvement Zone Program.

“This is exactly what the CRIZ is mean to do,” referring to the job creation and additional services that will become available when the project is completed.

In other development news, the borough heard from representatives of Solar Renewable Energy LLC regarding a potential solar array installation in the borough.

The project came about in conjunction to the proposed solar array project currently being pursued by the Tamaqua Area School District.

The company is proposing two array fields, one in the vicinity of the borough’s sewer plant and one in the area of the borough’s water plant.

The project designers are looking at how to maximize the output of the arrays, to offset as much of the borough’s electricity consumption as possible. “Ideally, you want to get to 100%,” said Doug Neidich, a representative from Solar Renewable Energy.

“With what we have laid out, we can get up to about the 70% range.”

The borough is working with Neidich to see where the additional 30% capacity can come from, to determine the “bottom line” for the project.

Neidich also laid out an investment plan that would have outside investors who could benefit from the 30% federal tax break that goes along with such an installation, pay for the installation up front.

After a period of five years, the borough would have the option of purchasing the arrays, which Neidich said is the recommended action. Neidich said the borough could qualify for low interest loans which would also help offset the cost of the final buyout. Ideally, the borough’s savings in electricity would offset the cost of the program over the long term.

Neidich said that approximately 80% of the work that his company does is for nonprofit organizations like municipalities and that if the project was not successful, the borough would not be obligated to make the payments.