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Solar Farm Permitting in Pennsylvania: Insights from PA DEP

Posted by Mark Podlesney on Monday, March 10, 2025

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As the world shifts towards cleaner energy production solutions, state and local agencies are evolving their permitting requirements and recommendations. We can see this evolution in the approach to Solar Farms. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has established recommendations on their Solar Energy Resource Hub to help developers and consultants site and permit solar farm projects. Currently, the PA Erosion and Sedimentation (E&S) Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual does not specifically address erosion and sedimentation design or stormwater management for solar farms, as these facilities weren’t prevalent at the time of its last revision. Upcoming integration of solar farm specific requirements into the Manual and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting is anticipated. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies may modify the NPDES permitting process to reflect the unique characteristics of solar farms, such as large-scale land disturbances, impervious surfaces and potential impacts on local hydrology.

Local conservation districts, like Berks County Conservation District (BCCD), are recommending pre-application meetings to ensure applicants, engineers, and investors understand the permitting and design expectations of the County Conservation District, since solar farm related state and federal regulations are not yet well defined.

Ultimately, many of the currently recommended design and construction standards can be applied for a Solar Farm. The Solar Energy Resource Hub can help inform your specific Solar questions that may not yet be addressed in official state and federal regulations. Understand the requirements of the Commonwealth through the use of the Solar Energy Resource Hub and the requirements of the County through a pre-application meeting.

Entech can help you navigate these developing permit requirements through our expertise and our established relationships with regulatory agencies. Contact us today!