Bradford Solar is an ~100MW utility-scale solar farm planned for Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The project would be located in Franklin and Burlington Townships, east of the county seat of Towanda.
Approvals
County SALDO Update and Solar Ordinance
The County is in the process of updating their SALDO (subdivision and land development ordinance), and is working on an ordinance for utility scale solar facilities with the County attorney, John E. Thompson. They have publicly stated the ordinance will be similar to the solar ordinance Susquehanna County Commission has crafted. [Susquehanna Proposed solar amendment]
Bradford County intends to have a solar ordinance in draft form at the March 21, 2023 Planning Commission meeting. A subcommittee of the Planning Commission is responsible for tailoring the ordinance. Its members are Warren Knapp, Roy Keiper, Andrew Bishop, and Jim Souto.
In discussing the ordinance with the press, County Planning Director Matt Williams stated that the commissioners don’t want to prevent solar farms from being built, but they want the public to be protected. Major concerns were fire, decommissioning, and requiring developers to post a bond, regardless of credit rating. [Solar Farm Regs, 12/21/2022]
Planning Commission
Members of the Planning Commission are from different geographic areas of the county, but they are not formally titled as representatives of a certain township or borough. PC commissioners’ place of residence is noted where possible.
Responsibilities of the Commission are to advise on development and to provide for and protect the health, safety, and general welfare of residents. The County’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance is in force in 47 of the 51 municipalities. [The Bradford County Planning Commission]
Both Burlington and Franklin Townships have opted out of adopting and enforcing local zoning ordinances. Neither township has a planning commission or comprehensive development plans. Therefore, under state law, zoning and permitting decisions revert to Bradford County’s authority to regulate under the county’s Land Development Ordinance.
Additional Boards
The County has two additional boards that may be of interest. They were not fully researched for this assessment, but are provided to give further context to the County’s focus.
Farmland Preservation Board
This is a 9 member board, appointed by the county governing body. Terms are 3 years.
The board must include:
Four members that are active resident farmers in the county.
One member of a borough or township governing body within the county.
One commercial industrial or residential building contractor who lives within the county.
Three at-large members.
Farmer Directors:
- Brian Zeidner, Chairman
- Roy Thomas
- Brian Moyer
- Matthew McClellan
Elected Official Member: Marvin Meteer
Contractor Member: Krystle Bristol
At Large Members:
- Raul Azpiazu
- Nicole Harris
- Amberleigh Packard
Bradford County Natural Gas Advisory Committee
Bradford County Commissioners formed the Natural Gas Advisory committee in 2008 to provide commissioners with information and feedback pertinent to the development of Marcellus Shale development in the communities. This committee meets quarterly, with monthly subcommittees. The County had 1,071 producing shale gas wells in 2014.
Maps of Natural Gas in the Bradford County
- Dimock water contamination, November 2022. Pa. Fracking Company Takes Blame for Contaminating Residents’ Drinking Water
- Bradford County halts construction on a LNG Plant, March 2022. Environmental Groups Shut Down Construction of Proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Plant in Wyalusing Township | Sierra Club
Decision-Makers
Leadership Roster
Chairman: Raul Azpiazu
1st Vice Chairman: Scott Williams
2nd Vice Chairman: Robert Storch
Secretary: Warren Knapp
