Some Edinboro residents, wishing to remain anonymous, are concerned that a new solar field proposal in Washington Township may create a financial headache. 

There are two main concerns relating to this: first, a worry over a possible decrease in property value, and second, an increase in electric bills and taxes. 

"Any neighbor of a solar field will think about, what does that do to the property value of my home?", said Linda King, VP of Communications for Northwestern Rural Electric Company. 

King, however, also believes a solar field could be helpful for farmers who may have land they cannot use for anything else. 

"Sometimes there are fields [farmers] can't even put a crop on. It might be a better use of that property rather than just brushog it", King said.

Washington Township Manager David Anthony understands both sides of the issue, and knows the council will have to consider all sides in order to make a fair decision.

“Almost everyone who spoke at the (township) meeting was for the solar energy, just didn't want it in the areas in which they live, and I respect that”, Anthony said. “But of course, if you're the farmer that owns that land, you would say I have the opportunity to make money on that on my farm that I buy and pay taxes on, so I'm entitled to something too”. 

Anthony says he expects the vote to be delayed 180 days when council meets tomorrow. 

Maura Mecurio, Edinboro Resident who lives near one of the proposed locations, hopes the decision is no. 

“I can’t imagine them taking this luscious land and using it for solar panels”, Mecurio said. 

This story was supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.