A public hearing on an ordinance that would regulate data centers and commercial solar energy farms in West Penn Township will be held at 5 p.m. on Sept. 8.

The West Penn Township supervisors’ regular evening monthly meeting will follow at 6 p.m.

Township solicitor Paul Datte said there is a “potential” for supervisors to adopt the new solar/data center ordinance at the September meeting.

Datte, at Monday’s board meeting, noted that while West Penn’s proposed ordinance details the decommissioning of commercial solar energy facilities, state lawmakers recent signed an act into law regarding decommissioning.

Datte said the law will preempt existing zoning regulations in municipalities. It will take effect in about 6 months.

“I’m suggesting that we keep our decommissioning language in the way we have it,” Datte said. “But preface the language in the ordinance that cross references (the state act) to indicate that once those formal provisions come on line, then those provisions will control the issue.”

The state act requires commercial solar farm developers to pay the cost to remove equipment and restore land once a solar farm is no longer in use.

Residents are advised that the supervisors’ meeting has been moved, because of the Labor Day holiday.