Chestnuthill Township is setting conditions for a solar project on 10 acres of land off Route 209.

Last week Solar Renewable Energy LLC, a solar energy company in Cumberland County, presented its case in a conditional use hearing before the supervisors.

Solar Renewable Energy, LLC has entered into an agreement of sale with the property owners of approximately 10 acres located at 103 Silver Valley Road, contingent upon getting the necessary approvals for a solar project.

Attorney Catherine E.N. Durso presented a redacted copy of the agreement of sale as well as a letter granting an extension getting the necessary approvals for the solar project.

There was a question about the property’s location, but David Faust, project developer, said the property is located within the light industrial commercial zoning district and commercial solar power generators permitted by conditional use in the zone currently located on the property.

Durso presented the supervisors with a GIS aerial map of the property that has frontage on Silver Valley Road.

Faust said the 2,000 portrait solar panels would be 80 inches tall by 40 inches wide and 1.4 inches. He went on to explain that basically they install it on an angle with the tallest point.

There will be contact information for the site operator to be placed on the side of the fence, with no other advertisements, advertising signs be erected.

There would be no audible sound, Faust said.

Based on the distance there will be no audible sound.

The proposed installation is 3 megawatts AC or less. The installation requires a connection to a three phase electric line with the panels to be connected to the existing utility pole along Silver Valley.

In this instance, a substation is not required, according to Faust.

“With regard to this project, it is what we call a net metered solar project,” he said.

The project is currently waiting on the PPL receipt of PUC approval pending.

Other details about the project were present:

• The solar panels will not reflect light to traffic going past. The company uses non glare or low glare panels.

• The property is maintained and mowed by the company.

• In the case of a fire, the company plans to reach to the closet fire company to make arrangements.

• There will be a buffer to the property.

The conditional use hearing with the supervisors is just the first hurdle.

David Albright, Chestnuthill township manager, said, “It is not a done deal yet. The hearing is closed and at an upcoming supervisor meeting they will vote on their list of conditions for the project. After that they will need to submit a land development plan to the township.”