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On a suggestion to supervisors from the Logan Township Zoning Board, the township Planning Commission has been looking into how best to modernize regulations on residential solar arrays.
The Zoning Board made the suggestion after feeling legally obligated to deny a variance to a homeowner that would have allowed him to install a ground-mount array big enough to serve his needs, due to a prohibition that limits such arrays to 600 square feet or half the size of the house, whichever is greater.
Modern homes with electric heat and hot water, along with an electric vehicle, can draw 30,000 kilowatt hours a year, which would require an array of 15,000 square feet to be self-sufficient, according to Richard Flarend, owner of Groundhog Solar, a local contractor.
So far, the Planning Commission has dealt with the issue over two meetings.
During the most recent one, members examined sample ordinances, questioned Flarend and spoke to township resident Kevin Lear, who was denied a request to put a ground-mount on his property, due to a prohibition against placing accessory structures in front yards.
Residents ought to be able to generate what they need for a home, Lear told the commission.
Among issues to be considered are glare, easements to guarantee that something on a neighboring property doesn't block access to the sun, the total allowable amount of lot coverage, excess capacity that can be sold to the grid, setbacks and other limits on yard placement, screening, height limits and decommissioning.
Solar panels are engineered to minimize glare, and the angles at which panels are set generally ensure that sunlight bounces up at a steep enough angle to not be a problem for someone looking from ground level, according to Flarend.
Based on the current ordinance, easements with neighbors to guarantee continued access to sunshine are to be worked out between the private parties.
It should stay that way, officials seemed to agree.
Lot coverage limitations by percentage should apply to any structures, including swimming pools and garages, not just solar arrays, Flarend said.
Capacity ought to be geared to homeowner use, and there should be a prohibition on "solar farms" in residential areas, Flarend said.
Setbacks for solar arrays should probably match those for other accessory structures, said Planning Director Cassandra Schmick.
But the current prohibition of accessory structures in the front yard can be problematic, because on some properties, the front yard is the most accessible for sunshine, Flarend said.
Lear could build his arrays in back of his house, but it would require cutting down many trees.
It might behoove the township to redefine "front" to mean directly in front of the house, Flarend suggested.
There are properties with plenty of space closer to the road that isn't directly in front of the houses on those properties -- and so could reasonably be considered side yard ground, he said.
And there are large properties with houses set far enough back from the road so that arrays in front wouldn't even be visible for passersby, he said.
Ground-mounted arrays can range from 2 or 3 feet at the low end and 10 feet at the high end, he said.
Life expectancy for modern arrays is 40 years, Flarend said. As time goes on, they don't generate as much.
The commissioners reviewed a solar energy support document from the Centre Regional Planning Agency, the solar ordinance for College Township, Centre County; the solar ordinance for Washington Township, Erie County; and a model ordinance from the Cumberland County Planning Department.
"This will be an ongoing project," said commission Chairman Joe Pufka. "We are learning."
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.