Farmer: Solar farms offer a path to survival for family farm

Michael Roknick, The Herald, Sharon, Pa.
·2 min read

Jun. 18—FINDLEY TOWNSHIP — Elliot Lengel sees a solar farm as a way to pass along his family heritage to the next generation.

"We're just a small family farm trying to survive," Lengel said.

The co-owner of Lengel Bros. Farm and Market in Findley Township signed agreements several years ago to lease two sections of the 400-acre family farm to house solar panels for generating electricity. He expects around 20 acres of each section could be used for solar panels, but no construction has begun.

"These are our worst fields," Lengel said. "And it's a real bear to get down here for them."

It's likely the solar company would have to build some type of roadway to get access to that land, he added. And the road would present opportunities.

"You can plant pollinating vegetation beneath the solar panels," Lengel said. "I've been talking with a beekeeper who can bring bees here and that we can partner with him."

Farming is at the mercy of weather — every season, he said. Solar farm leases offer a steady income stream.

"We want to pass the farm on to our nieces and nephews," Lengel said.

Construction of solar farms have sparked an outcry from some local residents in Mercer County, most notably in Coolspring Township. Residents complain they are unsightly and can harm the environment.

Lengel said people are falsely saying solar farms drip chemicals into the ground. Lisa Holm, a senior planner with the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, agreed.

"There's no chemicals coming through those panels any more like (it was in) the '70s," Holm said.

And farming isn't always pristine to the environment, Lengel said, noting there are hog farms outside the immediate area with 35,000 pigs.

"What do you think you do with the manure that 35,000 hogs create?" He questioned.

A solar farm isn't a bad neighbor, Lengel said. He noted discount retailer Dollar General has been building local stores at a far faster pace than solar farms.

As of last month, The Herald reported there are 30 Dollar General stores in Mercer County with two more expected by the end of this year.

"Do you really want another Dollar General?" he asked.