In order to have an informed discussion about the solar project, everyone needs to know what is in the current solar ordinance adopted by the Venango Township supervisors in February of this year.
There is also a pending zoning amendment intended to rezone two sections of parcels within the solar project properties currently zoned R-1 Residential changing them to A-1 Agricultural.
Please review the documents at the links below.
Thank you for making this available! One would think that with the technology available that transparency would be much easier for projects like this and online access to documents would be available for things like ordinances.
Yes, one would think.
I believe it’s too late to fight. A helicopter was in the sky for a couple hours Thurs moving things around up on Tower and Tracy Rd. I think this is part of Niemeyer’s property. Does anyone know what is going on ??
This is the first chance I had to read these. Thanks for posting them. It seems the township just followed what the solar company told them to do when drafting the ordinance and the zoning variance. The ordinance appears to be designed to allow the solar company to build what they desire. Who did the township consult with when drafting the ordinance? There are very few obstacles in the way for this to move forward, which is a shame. A project of this scope should always be subject to public approval and voted on by the people. The supervisors are elected to manage the day to day, not change the landscape of the township on a whim without the voice of the people. This is exactly what the solar company wanted; a small government with no protections in place so thay can take advantage and the supervisors are serving it up on a silver platter.
Google may have been consulted.
https://www.psats.org/resource-center-ordinances/
https://www.psats.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Solar-Energy-System-Ordinance-2020.pdf
mostly word for word.
Looks like we have a winner.
Did anyone see the YouTube video of a large solar field in South Dakota I believe completely destroyed by hail but I personally have a bigger beef I don’t like taxpayer funded projects going to a company from another Nation and there are alternatives to generating electricity hydrogen generators which run 24/7 not when the sun shines not when the wind blows and I’m sure they would be much less of an eyesore but none of that matters because the current establishment wants to spend spend spend your tax dollars even if it means some other country some other business
In another country makes money off of your tax dollars I don’t begrudge the property owners I just don’t see where our small community gobbles up so much electricity that they think we need to have a standby the only time I have any brown outs is when there’s a branch on the line speaking of spending taxpayers dollars
And upon further thought I’ll say one more thing we live in an area with the French Creek watershed beautiful countryside where our tax dollars would better serve our community by investing into biking and hiking trails boating access camping facilities it seems to me like wattsburg always gets the short end of the stick how come they don’t put these solar panels on the lake Erie shore cuz they don’t want to see them how come they don’t put these solar fields in some of these other communities they don’t want to see them and I can just imagine the tourism dollars that are going to be generated in our community because everyone’s going to come flock to see the solar field another sad day where the taxpayers in this community get the short end of the stick
I can’t stop thinking about this let me say one more thing” Union City dam” now that could be a potential windfall for the surrounding area just think of all the boating opportunities fishing camping biking hiking all the people that would come buy gas visit restaurants stay in our campgrounds and enjoy are pristine French Creek watershed now that’s bang for your tax dollar bucks right there it could be done they could generate electricity there yeah I would take your clean and green tax dollars to do it but it’s just another thing that makes way more sense and it would be an asset not an eyesore but maybe I’m wrong maybe people will come from all over the country to see the wattsburg solar field and spend their money I mean I don’t think hardly anybody would get this place they’ve already procured the land unreal sad sick
I have talked to some people in the community that still have no idea this is happening cause they are not on social media please spread this around what they are doing.to are precious community.. it will never be the same.
We saw two helicopters over the old Erie Co. Airport. They were back a d forth for a couple of hours.We didn’t see the helicopter moving anything but it did have a long (maybe 20 ft) hose of sorts tow line attached. Have no idea what they were doing. Could have been flying lesson.
The members of the Board of Supervisors got a very clear and definite accounting of what the majority of their constituents want (and don’t want). They aren’t elected to do what THEY think should be done, they are elected to speak for the people who voted for them. DJ Austin is one who answered directly when asked…he would oppose the project if he could. One option this Board still has is deny the rezoning of the 2 parcels. That is at least a roadblock and impediment to the project, and what we the people would want to happen. It seems that there was very little additional legal advice provided this Board in drafting an ordinance. Why does it provide for storm drain protection, but not French Creek Watershed protection? It demands a phone number to contact for complaints, but gives no description of the procedure to move forward with resolving complaints. In fact, I see no actual consequences or remedies outlined in the event that the operators doesn’t meet the standards. While the psats.org page can provide general starting points for drafting ordinances, the reason we have legal counsel is to help with site specific details. At the September meeting, it seemed very clear that our solicitor was promoting and encouraging compliance with the project, before anyone seemed to have any information about it.
This is not a solar “farm” it is a power plant. The successful rebranding of these ventures is one on their great victories. They use “farm” term to confuse people since farms are almost universally liked. I refuse to play that game. As a power plant, solar plants receive about 7 cents of subsidy per kwh. The national average etheric rate is around 12 cents (I see about 10 cents on my bill). Thus, we pay them to produce electricity which we then have to purchase from them. It’s a legal racket.
In Minnesota last winter, it was cold and snowy. How odd. Covered in snow and freezing; for several weeks the solar plants in MN actually consumed more power than they generated. We get significantly more snow here. What’s going to happen? I’m sure they will not be paying people to clear them off of over 1,000 acres.
Solar panels are future toxic waste. Nobody will take them. After gov’t subsidies end, I’m pretty sure this eyesore will be abandoned and left to rot and seeping toxic chemicals into our ground.
Treeless landscapes, yoxic fields, slave laborers in China and 8 year olds digging in mines in Congo are the legacy of these unscrupulous frauds.