Chestnut Township Supervisors have set a hearing date to amend the commercial solar power generation provisions of the ordinance of the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

The proposed hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Chestnuthill Township building.

The current ordinance, adopted in 2014, allows for solar on 11,000 acres. The overlay would have allowed 2,100 acres in the township.

Instead the supervisors are moving forward with a new ordinance, which proposes allowing grid scale commercial solar as a conditional use in light industrial commercial zones, and would reduce the area to 300 acres.

The ordinance also puts restrictions on solar farms. Proposed farms will be required to have a plan for decommissioning the farm and proof of financial security.

Supervisors set a hearing date of 7 p.m. Oct. 24 for Effort Energy Initiative LLC, who wants to build a commercial solar power generation facility at 301 Merwinsburg Road.

The facility is proposed on 13 acres of property that borders Pheasant Run Road, in a rural residential zoning area. It’s allowed as a conditional use in the current ordinance.