Polk Township is holding a conditional use hearing at 6 tonight concerning a solar project.

Township solicitor James Fareri mentioned the hearing during Monday’s supervisors meeting but could not go into detail about what might happen when Nate Fox, of the Obermayer law firm who is representing Effort Solar, questions more industry experts during this fourth evening of testimony.

The proposed solar panel farm is near the intersection of Bear and Long Mountain roads. More than a dozen township residents have been sworn in as parties and have been able to ask questions during these hearings.

The Effort Solar conditional use hearing will be held at the Polk Township Volunteer Fire Department in Kresgeville. It was continued from its original date in February due to a snowstorm.

Janet Dooner, who is one of a group of citizens have been pursuing this project, said they have several concerns about the project.

Dooner said in a news release, “We are not opposed to advances of safe and efficient advances in solar energy as technology rapidly changes. We are opposed to large industrial scale solar field generation facilities within the mix of residential, farmland, and forested areas. We can verify our facts with scientific studies and measurements.”

Dooner said the project would encompass 500 acres of land in a residential zone area.

“Two rural communities in Polk and Chestnuthill Township could be transformed forever,” she said.

Some of the concerns of the group include:

• Flooding and stormwater management;

• Groundwater recharge for wells;

• Soil decomposition and disturbance;

• Forrest fragmentation;

• Wildlife displacement;

• Fires both industrial and electrical;

• 200-500 acre solar project within single-family home neighborhoods, and;

• Return on environment of rural character.

Staci L. Gower contributed to this report.