Despite objections from citizens, Derry Township supervisors last night approved a permit for a solar array to be put up along Newhouse Road.
Concerns that were brought up by township residents at the meeting last night and at a public hearing on September 2nd included the potential harmful effects of the array on the environment. Representatives with the solar developer, CVE North America, said that while there was some lead in the panels, it was encapsulated and should not be released into the environment. Other problems brought up included ruining the view in the neighborhood and causing property values to drop.
Supervisor Don Kepple, said he wasn’t happy with the decision, but the permit application followed all the rules and was correct from start to finish.
Another supervisor, Steve Siko, said the permit is contingent on an agreement with CVE, the company’s contractor and the supervisors verifying that the array will be built as specified, and CVE posting a bond equal to 110% of the cost of the eventual decommissioning of the array. That number is still being worked on by the supervisors and the company.
