Solar farms — and zoning to regulate them — surfaced in many communities this year.

Earlier this month, Mahoning Township held a conditional use hearing for a solar farm request after Solar Renewable Energy LLC and Ashtown Road Solar Partners LLC applied for a request for a conditional use.

Melo Enterprises LLC requested and Leon A. George II and Danielle M. George filed for permits for property is located on Ashtown Drive in an I-1 Research and Development and Industrial zoning district.

In October, Franklin Township supervisors adopted a resolution to ensure no future solar farms are proposed in the township.

Supervisors held a curative amendment hearing from Allentown-based Sanik Solar, looking to put a solar field on property off Renner Road leased to the company by Carl and Marie Bieling.

The company desires to develop a solar energy production facility/solar farm on property at 390-400 Indian Hill Road.

In the Carbon County Planning Commission’s review, county planner Ivan O. Meixell Jr. has written that the draft ordinance and maps would allow for approval for the plan. However, since that amendment was never adopted, Sanik Solar believes the township is in violation of Pennsylvania law.

As a result, the Bielings and Sanik Solar challenged the validity of the zoning ordinance.

Franklin Township supervisors in August granted the Lehighton Site LLC (Bollinger Solar Farm) land development plan conditional approval.

Lehighton Site plans to install 8,000 solar panels on 9 acres at 208 Memorial Drive.

Monroe County

In August, Polk Township supervisors approved a solar revision along with other changes.

Several residents were vocal during the public hearings about not allowing commercial zoning solar power facilities in residential zones.

The Chestnuthill/Jackson/Eldred/Ross/Polk townships regional planning committee has talked to a consultant to modify the plan and will be asked to review the solar ordinance.

In February, Chestnuthill Township supervisors approved the conditional use application for a solar farm on top of a hillside on Merwinsburg Road in Effort.

The conditional use approval means that the project can proceed on land that is zoned rural residential district. Since that time, the township has passed an ordinance allowing solar only in areas zoned light industrial.

The solar farm would be located on a 15-acre parcel of a larger 126.59-acre property owned by Connie Merwine along Merwinsburg Road.

Schuylkill County

In June, West Penn Township supervisors approved a final plan for the project near the intersection of Ash Circle and Ridge Road.

Approval for the Gregory and Jodi Duschak Solar Energy Collection Land Development was contingent upon developers satisfying comments required by ARRO Engineering.

The plan, which calls for 63 rows of solar panels on 34 acres of private land zoned for agricultural use, also needs approval from the Schuylkill County Planning Commission.

In October, the Rush Township Zoning Hearing Board denied special exception and variance requests made by developers seeking to construct a commercial solar farm on 35 acres of land in Hometown.

The decision followed a two-hour-long hearing that brought dozens of residents, many of whom erupted in cheers following the ruling. The developer, Pitch Mountain PV I, Chicago, had planned to construct a 6-megawatt farm on two adjoining parcels on Claremont Avenue.

The site is near Walmart in Hometown, and owned by Cathy and Carl Briesch of Hazle Township.

The parcels contains a combined 1,975 acres, but developers said the solar farm would take up about 1.7% of the land.

More than a dozen residents spoke against the plans.