Mayor: 28-acre solar farm proposed in Mayfield not for data centers
A 28-acre solar farm proposed by Solar Star Mayfield 1 LLC, operating under TotalEnergies, in Mayfield, PA, has raised concerns among residents about its potential connection to powering data centers. However, Mayor Al Chelik clarified that the project is unrelated to data centers. The Mayfield Borough Council is preparing for a public hearing to discuss the solar farm's land development application, which is a principally permitted use under local zoning.
A 28-acre solar farm proposed by Solar Star Mayfield 1 LLC, a subsidiary of Houston-based TotalEnergies, in Mayfield, Pennsylvania, has been clarified by Mayor Al Chelik as unrelated to the data center industry. The project, planned for the mountainside above Business Route 6, generated public concern that it could fuel power-hungry data centers.
The Mayfield Borough Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on June 10 at 6 p.m. at the Mayfield Borough Municipal Building to discuss the land development application for the solar farm. Mayor Chelik indicated this hearing is for informational purposes, preceding a council vote on the borough planning commission's recommendation. The solar farm is designated as a principal permitted use within the borough's heavy commercial zoning district, which typically means it does not require special conditional use approvals often associated with data centers.
The borough adopted and later amended standards for large-scale solar electric energy facilities in 2024, reducing minimum setback requirements from 150 feet to 50 feet. This adjustment was made to prevent potential legal challenges stemming from overly restrictive zoning, as Pennsylvania municipalities must permit all lawful land uses, including data centers, to avoid exclusionary zoning accusations. Despite social media speculation, Mayor Chelik reiterated that no data centers are currently proposed in Mayfield.