A nonresidential solar energy systems ordinance and non-residential wind energy systems ordinance were discussed at this week’s Clarion County Planning Commission meeting.
“We are doing this for the same reason there are bonds on oil and gas wells,” county commissioner Ted Tharan said. “The old strip mines were bonded and whenever they walked away there was supposed to be money to clean it up. There were high walls that were left and there was no bond. Now look at the way they have to come back and clean them up.”
“If you build a solar farm or a windmill after they become obsolete people will walk away from them and the county will be responsible for the clean-up,” Tharan added.
“There is toxic waste in the batteries and the batteries leak into the ground,” said Tharan. “You don’t know what is in the lithium batteries that are used in solar farms.”
Tharan said there are also building and property setbacks to consider.
Tharan said he isn’t aware of any solar or wind farms under consideration in the county.
“We just want to be proactive,” he said.