Approvals

Understanding how local decisions are made and who is making them is fundamental to successful community engagement and project approval. Knowing who the decision-makers are and what they value gives a developer the necessary background for persuasive and constructive engagement with officials.

1. Remove “Agricultural Zone” exclusion from North Beaver Township Municipal Code 

- In 2021, North Beaver Township passed a revised solar ordinance that limited solar development to the municipality’s industrial zones, as well as created decommissioning requirements for solar developers. Vesper has indicated the project is not viable if this limitation is not removed. 

- There are two potential pathways at present that the ordinance can be amended to allow for solar development on agricultural land: 

• Successfully appeal to the state Attorney General (see Local Issues - “Right to Farm”) 
• North Beaver Township Board of Supervisors votes to amend or repeal the ordinance. 

2. Receive Conditional Use Permit from North Beaver Township

- Once the exclusion ordinance is removed, the Board of Supervisors will need to approve a conditional use permit for Vesper to develop the solar facility on agricultural zoned land.