SOUTH COATESVILLE, PA — The South Coatesville Borough Council is actively considering the transformation of an 80-acre property on Upper Gap Road into a solar farm, reports Brenden Curry for LNP | LancasterOnline. This initiative has been in the pipeline since last year, with the council expressing interest in assuming control of the solar farm at the end of any lease period.
Council member Bob Floyd is brimming with optimism regarding the proposal, envisioning that a solar farm could yield an annual revenue of up to $82,000 for the borough. When considering the potential benefits of the project, Floyd rightfully exclaimed, “It’s a revenue generator; why wouldn’t you want to do it.”
Two competing firms, ECA Solar and Nexamp Inc., have submitted proposals for the project. Both proposals were presented via Zoom. Each proposal outlines plans for an access road from Upper Gap Road, a 100-foot setback from residential property lines, and a connection to existing utility infrastructure owned by PECO Energy.
However, the proposals differ in lease length, acreage, and power capacity. Jack Curry, representing Nexamp, proposed a 7.9-megawatt solar farm on 34 acres for a lease period of 40 years. The proposed facility would utilize tracking technology to maximize sunlight collection and include a camera feed for enhanced security and maintenance monitoring. Nexamp’s proposal also incorporates a unique partnership with the American Solar Grazing Association, utilizing sheep grazing for landscaping purposes. Curry emphasized the broader benefit of augmenting domestic energy production through the project.
On the other hand, Martha Diezmann, the senior development manager for ECA Solar, proposed a smaller-scale project spanning 20-25 acres for a lease period of 30 years. The ECA Solar facility would consist of a 5-megawatt solar farm comprising 13,000 stationary solar panels. Additionally, ECA Solar plans to install up to six additional poles to support protective equipment. Diezmann emphasized the steady income potential over the course of 30 years for the borough. She also proposed implementing a tracking feature on the borough’s website, enabling residents to monitor real-time energy production.
The council is set to decide which proposal to select at its next council meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on October 24 at the Chester County Public Safety Campus, Coatesville. This pivotal decision will mark a significant step towards sustainable energy production and revenue generation for South Coatesville.
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