UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Municipal leaders and other interested individuals can learn about current Pennsylvania solar development trends, including solar zoning, legislative updates and planning strategies, at an upcoming Penn State Extension land-use webinar.
Presenting the 75-minute webinar at noon Sept. 17 will be Robert Davidson, an attorney with Hummel, Lewis and Davidson LLP, and Matthew Svetz, educational program specialist with Penn State Extension.
Davidson’s extensive work on solar projects has included preparing municipal zoning ordinances regulating solar development, representing both municipalities and developers at public hearings, and negotiating landowner leases. Svetz focuses on energy and land-use education.
As solar adoption continues to grow, understanding the regulatory framework, economic impacts and planning considerations is essential for effective local governance, organizers noted.
This session will provide an overview of different types of solar development, what each requires to be feasible, and how they may affect communities in terms of land use, infrastructure and local planning.
Participants can learn about recent and proposed legislation aimed at streamlining permitting processes, promoting agrivoltaics and expanding community solar programs. These efforts seek to balance state energy goals with local control and land-use priorities.
Solar development in Pennsylvania is shaped by a combination of federal, state and local regulations. This webinar will highlight the roles of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Department of Environmental Protection, local governments, and federal agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy.
The webinar is part of Penn State Extension’s Summer/Fall Land-Use Webinar Series, which is aimed at helping community leaders navigate land-use challenges, with topics ranging from small farm economics and green infrastructure to solar development trends and artificial intelligence in planning.
The series began Aug. 6 and runs monthly through November. Sessions feature Penn State experts and guest speakers discussing timely issues affecting municipal officials, planners, landowners and community organizations.
Each 75-minute session is recorded and made available to registrants for six months. Other programs in the series include:
- Aug. 6: “The Economic Impact of Small Farms: What it Means for Community Plans and Planners” (recorded).
- Aug. 20: “Local Ordinances and Green Infrastructure in Pennsylvania” (recorded).
- Oct. 15: “Stormwater Management Planning and Community Trees: Green Infrastructure for the Future.”
- Nov. 19: “Practical AI for Community Development and Planning: Tools, Tips and Useful Everyday Applications.”
Penn State Extension is offering the series in partnership with the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Planning Association and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development.
Registration is required to receive the link to access each webinar.
Pending approval, the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Planning Association will offer professional credits to registered landscape architects or professional planners with the American Institute of Certified Planners. Each webinar is worth 1.25 credits, or 6.25 credits for those attending the full series.
The cost of the webinar series is $50 for all five sessions, or $95 for all five sessions for those who want to receive AICP certification-maintenance credits from the American Planning Association. In addition, registered landscape architects can receive continuing-education credits for a fee of $65.
For anyone interested in a particular topic from the series, individual session registration is available for a fee of $15 per session. Those needing assistance can access a scholarship option.
For more information, contact John Turack at 724-837-1402 or by email at jdt15@psu.edu. Register for the webinar at this link.