Union County offers guidance as landowners consider utility-scale solar leases

Union County is responding to a rise in landowner inquiries about leasing property to utility-scale solar developers by assembling educational resources and urging caution before any agreements are signed. County staff say many property owners are being approached about long-term ground leases and the county is directing them to materials that explain the legal, financial, and municipal implications of hosting large solar projects.

The county strongly recommends that landowners consult an attorney familiar with solar leases prior to signing any and all documents provided by utility-scale solar developers. Property owners should have an understanding of the many legal and financial impacts of these leases, and consult their municipality regarding any local solar ordinances. Resources assembled for residents include Penn State Extension webinars and materials covering utility-scale solar leasing, landowner considerations such as bonds, decommissioning, and site impacts, plus estate planning implications and guidance for municipal officials.

For farmers and rural landowners in Union County, the immediate appeal of steady lease payments can mask long-term tradeoffs. Utility-scale leases can affect property tax assessments, restrict future land use, alter agricultural soil management, and complicate estate plans for families who pass land to the next generation. Decommissioning obligations and bonding requirements are especially important: without adequate bonds, future taxpayers or neighboring owners could shoulder cleanup costs if a project is abandoned or the developer dissolves.

Municipal ordinances play a decisive role in what gets approved locally. Townships and borough councils set setbacks, screening, and siting rules that determine whether a proposed array fits within a community’s land-use vision. The county encourages landowners to raise questions with their local municipality early in negotiations and to discuss potential impacts on roads, drainage, and neighboring properties.

Union County’s planning and economic development office is available to answer questions and point residents toward the webinars and materials the county has consolidated. Independent legal and financial advice is urged so landowners can compare lease terms, tax scenarios, insurance needs, and exit provisions before committing to long-term agreements.

The international momentum toward renewable energy is bringing global dynamics to Union County’s fields and ridgelines. That intersection of global policy and local ground calls for careful review and community dialogue.

The takeaway? Treat any solar lease like a real estate sale with strings attached. Get an attorney who knows solar leases, check with your municipality, and think through estate and decommissioning plans before you pencil in that steady check. Our two cents? Protect your land and your family’s future first, then let the sun earn you income on terms you fully understand.