The Eldred Township supervisors enacted two ordinances Wednesday night that amend references to commercial solar production currently in the township’s zoning ordinances and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances.

Prior to taking a vote on the ordinances, the township held a public hearing on them, which gave the public an opportunity to ask questions or make a comment.

The first ordinance amends the Eldred Township Zoning Ordinance by changing references to solar power generation, commercial to solar commercial facility. Solar for commercial uses is located in Section 847 of the zoning ordinances. That section regulates the size of the facility, setbacks, fencing, landscaping, and many other requirements.

“No substantive matters were changed,” said Michael Gaul, the township solicitor.

Gaul explained that the township has extensive zoning regulations on commercial solar facilities, but over time they need to be reviewed and updated as needed.

“I don’t think there’s anything too surprising in the ordinance. It’s been around for a while now. It’s been subject to review multiple times by township boards and planning commissions,” he said.

Former supervisor Gary Hoffman, who is director of Communications for the Monroe County Control Center and Eldred Township’s Emergency Management coordinator, asked that a report he did be added to the record for the hearing. His report is titled “Solar Power Systems and How It Applies to Fire Safety Response.”

“To be clear, I’m not speaking against solar power, because I believe it can be a viable solution for energy regeneration,” Hoffman said. “However, what I learned doing research is that if not properly engineered and installed, it can be extremely dangerous if not prove fatal to our firefighters should they have to mitigate a fire suppression incident involving solar array configuration.”

Hoffman said homeowners should consider the structural integrity of the roof of their house before they install a solar system.

The second ordinance amends the SALDO to include a solar commercial facility.

The ordinance states that “development and decommissioning of solar commercial facilities can have a material impact on the land uses in their vicinity. … The regulation and review of solar commercial facilities under the Township SALDO is consistent with good land use planning and will protect the health, safety, and welfare of the Township’s residents, businesses, and property owners.”

The second ordinance also provides a method for calculating a recreation fee and the initial fee amount. Under this section, the ordinance states it will be based on the square feet of solar array area on the land development after approval. The fee is set at 25 cents per square foot of solar array area in a solar commercial facility.

“Does this make it easier or harder for a solar field to come into Eldred Township,” asked Doug Borger, a resident of the township.

Supervisor Scott Clark, chairman of the supervisors, said, “I don’t think it makes it easier or harder. It just provides processes and procedures that they have to meet. … It just gives clarification to what the requirements are.”

Clark said the ordinance takes into consideration all the recommendations of the Planning Commission and Emergency Management to make sure the residents and volunteer firefighters are protected.

“It’s not either or,” Gaul added. “The application process is more detailed, so the idea is that the township will have more information about what’s happening when they decide to either approve or disapprove.”

Gaul said that solar commercial facilities are allowed in the township but fall under conditional use. This means that the supervisors can put conditions the project, which have to be agreed upon by the developer in order for the project to be approved.

“The more information that the board has, the more they can be alerted to there being a potential problem that needs to be mitigated through condition,” Gaul said.