Solar in the Keystone State
For more than 200 years, Pennsylvania has been a hot spot for mining coal, ranking 4th in the nation in coal production.
Coal reigned supreme for so many years, but like so many other aspects of life, the energy industry is in a transition period. The United States, and the rest of the world, is transitioning to a clean energy economy. Pennsylvania has serious potential to be the next solar hub.
At the federal level, The Solar Investment Tax Credit has been extended at 26% for two additional years. At the state level, House Bill 531 and Senate Bill 705 are expected to pass “sometime soon”.
These two bills are amendments of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act from November 2004. They are further providing for definitions and for interconnection standards for customer-generator facilities; providing for unsubscribed energy, for community solar facilities, electric distribution companies and subscriber administrators, for customer participation in community solar programs, for location of multiple community solar facilities and for ecology and stewardship; and making editorial changes.
“What’s more, analysis by the College of Agricultural Studies at Penn State University found that around 1 GW of solar power — on just over 4,000 acres of land — was ready to break ground, pending the approval of those two bills. The anticipated projects already have signed agreements, and have some sort of interconnection and permitting in place.” (pv-magazine)
The study shows that there would be some impressive economic benefits, and landowners would see a good portion of these benefits. “Using lease rates of $700 to $1,000 per acre, the Penn State researchers found that landowners would gain $2.9 to $4.2 million a year for 25 to 35 years.” ( pv-magazine )
Learn more about this opportunity today!
The study goes into further detail about the full economic benefits of bringing these solar projects online in Pennsylvania. We have included a link to the analysis done by the College of Agricultural Studies at Penn State University in the description of this video.
There are always two sides to every story, and not everyone in Pennsylvania has completely warmed up to the idea of an influx of solar developments in their state.
Specifically, “In Mount Joy Township, Adams County, a group of 60 people hired a lawyer to contest a conditional use permit for a 75-megawatt solar field.” (NPR)
Opponents of this solar development are worried that it will affect property values and the health of wildlife. Some went so far as to compare being surrounded by a solar array as living “in a prison.”
At Breiter Planet Properties we understand the significance of bringing all stakeholders to the table when making important decisions. We take pride in keeping all parties informed and up to date with our projects.
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