Buffalo Township officials give green light to solar array ordinance

After nearly a year of deliberation, the Buffalo Twp. supervisors voted to adopt a solar energy ordinance during their Feb. 17 meeting.

The ordinance, which was presented by the township’s planning commission, establishes guidelines for the siting, construction, operation and decommissioning of solar energy facilities. The need for such an ordinance arose in late 2023 when a proposal for a 50-acre grid-scale solar array was submitted for development on agricultural land. With no prior regulations in place, the township embarked on an extensive effort to craft a legal framework that would balance energy development with the preservation of the township’s agricultural landscape.

“This is the culmination of a year of hard work, multiple rewrites, and long hours of research,” planning commission member Tim Albright said during the meeting. “While it may not be perfect, this ordinance is a strong and necessary step for our township.”