A solar project in the Mount Jefferson Plane area of Summit Hill was proposed during a recent meeting of the borough council. The project, by a private developer with no involvement by the borough, would be built in an area just east of the cemeteries.

Prospect14 LLC, Abington, Lackawanna County, has signed a lease option agreement to construct the solar field within a 45- to 65-acre area of a 342-acre parcel.

Mark Moore of Salem Township, Wayne County, development manager, said although the site overlooks East White Bear Drive, it would not be visible from that road nor would it impact the Switchback Railroad Trail.

Moore said Prospect14 has signed an interconnection agreement with PPL utility to connect at the substation north of the project on Market Street (Route 209) utilizing PPL’s right of way for their 69Kv lines.

A map showing the approximate area where the panels would be placed was given to the council, but no formal plans were submitted.

Moore said, “The parcel is zoned R-1 (residential) and Summit Hill does not have solar in the zoning ordinance, and we would like to discuss if a solar ordinance is being drafted or what the process would be to permit a solar project.”

He said access would likely be from Treeline Drive and “we would like to put gravel down and widen it.”

“We want to work with you,” Moore said. “We want to be good neighbors. We want to hear from everybody.”

He said he feels it could provide tax revenue for the school district and borough.

“Other places we go, we give donations to such organizations as the fire company or parks and recreation,” he said, emphasizing, “We wouldn’t go anywhere near the Switchback Trail.”

Council President David Wargo said the borough has been working on zoning changes for several years, with delays on this occurring due to COVID. He said updates on zoning could be available in 4-5 months. “I do believe we did address solar fields in the new ordinance,” he said.

Council member Alan Kruslicky questioned the lifespan of the solar panels and the plans for the field when that lifespan has been reached.

Moore said typically the lifespan is 25 to 30 years, but panels probably would be replaced after about 15 years because “they do degrade.”

He said the panels utilized by his firm come from Canada, not China.

“We have enough room to do three, 3-megawatt projects,” he said.

Lacey Gonzalez, a member of council, said one three-megawatt project can cost $1 to $5 million, meaning three 3-megawatt projects can cost about $15 million.

Moore assured her that a wetlands study will occur before any solar field is built.

He added that plans will be put on hold until Summit Hill updates its zoning regulations.