Plans for the proposed PA Solar Park phase II in Nesquehoning are moving forward, but there is still some work to be done before it becomes a reality.

On Monday evening, representatives from Con Edison Development, the developers of the project, met with the Nesquehoning Planning Commission to discuss the plan, address concerns and answer questions. Con Edison hopes to break ground on the second phase of the solar park by early April.David G. Lear, senior project manager for Lehigh Engineering Associates Inc. of Walnutport, spoke to the commission about the next phase of the project.Phase I of the solar park, located on land leased from the Kovatch family just off Fourth Hollow and Industrial roads in the Hauto Valley Estates portion of Nesquehoning, has been up and running with nearly 40,000 panels for approximately two years and generates approximately 10 megawatts of electricity, which is sold to PPL Electric.The new section will be located east of the current panels on 100 acres of land leased from Boca Holdings, as well as a little portion of land owned by Kovatch. The number of solar panels that will be installed has yet to be determined, but Lear said that the additional panels will also generate 10 megawatts of electricity once completed. No cost for the project has been released as of Monday.Lear pointed out that the second phase will be spread out more than phase one because the land terrain is steeper, there are existing water lines on the site; as well as more wetlands than on the Kovatch property.The planning commission raised some concerns about the current phase, including the lack of a visitors center, which was included in phase I; and planting grass over the disturbed area.Lear said that the visitors center will be constructed following the second phase because the site of the center is needed for a staging area for the additional panels.He also said they are attempting to plant grass at the site, but are having issues with finding a type that will grow properly in the soil."The developers are going to do every part of phase I A and B," Lear told the commission. "You are guaranteed everything that was proposed, including the visitors center. We're just waiting to get the other phase ready to get the communication room done correctly."Lear added that once the panels are constructed, and before they are put online, the visitors center will be constructed.He noted that the timetable for the project is ambitious, with breaking ground to the completion of the visitors center projected at just under one year.Following Lear's presentation, the commission raised some concerns about the proposed second phase, including water filtration on the site, emergency access points and the planting of grass.Gregory Haas, borough engineer, said that he feels the swales as proposed will cause problems and suggested altering the plans slightly.The planning commission, after much discussion and following Haas' recommendation, decided to table any motion of the plan to allow Con Edison Development time to make the changes that were discussed and resubmit the plans. The next step for the group will be to go before the Nesquehoning Zoning Hearing Board as the site requires a special exception permit; as well as obtain a Carbon County Conservation District review and state Department of Environmental Protection review.In October, the solar park project received $750,000 from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.In November, the second phase plans went before the Carbon County Planning Commission, who recommended conditional plan rejection until a number of items of concern were addressed and mitigated.