At their January board meeting, Cumberland Township supervisors decided to separate an action item regarding a solar energy farm project located primarily in Straban Township from the day’s main agenda, and to table it for further review.
The Adams Miller Solar Development project is planned on 123 acres located in Straban Township, with an address of 30 Miller Road; however, 7.43 acres of the proposed project would be located within Cumberland Township. If approved, the 3 MW solar farm will be sited on Boyds School Road with an entrance off of Old Harrisburg Road.

According to the description in the board meeting agenda, the project – which has been under review by Straban for more than a year – was initially slated by Cumberland Township as a routine action item for the board, involving a “cursory review” of the plan based on the assumption that “there is no disturbance or solar panels being placed on any Cumberland Township property”.
Prior to discussion of the project, the board was addressed by Holly Fox, a Straban resident who also owns a business in Cumberland Township. Fox reiterated statements that she had already made to the Straban Township Commissioners – that the developer plan was made in haste “simply to take advantage of a grace period before the new [stricter] overlay ordinance took effect in Straban at the beginning of 2024”.
Fox and her husband have retained two independent engineers to review the proposed project, both of whom noted major deficiencies in the developer’s plans.
According to one of the independent engineers, Bruce Haigh, the development parcel spans over 123-acres “of which roughly 26 acres or approximately 21% will be disturbed”. In a letter addressed to the Cumberland Township supervisors – which he presented and discussed during the meeting – Haigh said the developer, SolAmerica Energy (“Applicant”) did not consider the severity of impact the project would have on the surrounding area.
According to Haigh’s official opinion, “the Applicant has not demonstrated that it will be in compliance with certain State Regulations and PADEP guidance documents and Township Ordinances that could impact the residents and resources of Cumberland Township.”
Haigh then listed a number of specific deficiencies and the severity of impact that had not been considered in the process of planning:
Accelerated Erosion: Runoff and deposition of sediments in Rock Creek, which is a common receiving “Water of the Commonwealth” between Straban Township and Cumberland Township for MS-4 compliance.
Excess storm water runoff: Excess volume will discharge into Rock Creek, which is currently already impaired and is a “Receiving Water” for the Cumberland Township MS4 permit.
Solar Glare: The arrangement of the solar panels in an east-west orientation will place the portions of Boyds School Road between Old Harrisburg Road and Rock Creek in a solar glare condition.
Water Quality: Certain amounts of lead, cadmium, arsenic, copper, and selenium contained in the solar panels would become a direct discharge into Rock Creek with no pre-treatment, should the solar panels be damaged during a hailstorm or otherwise.
Flooding from 100-year return storm: There was no evidence provided by the developer that each of the local detention basins will be able to hold the anticipated 100-year runoff volume.
Noise: Six inverters placed on each equipment pad will cause an approximate source sound level of 89 dBA at Boyds School Road, which the Applicant had mis-stated in the application to be only 40.9 dBA.
Ms. Fox reiterated that they were not asking the board to “fight a solar farm.” “We are asking you, respectfully, to table this vote and to look into the project in more depth,” she said.
In addition to Fox and Haigh, the board was addressed by a Cumberland resident, Dave Corradetti, and Kim Reiner, a representative for St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, to request postponing the Adams Miller project decision by the Supervisors in order to conduct a more in-depth review.
While Cumberland’s ordinances are not applicable to Straban Township projects, Supervisor Christine Biggins cautioned that discharge into Rock Creek did indeed fall into Cumberland Township purview and responsibilities, as the waterway straddles Cumberland and Straban properties and is a receiving water for the Cumberland Township’s MS4 permit. Township road superintendent Chris Walter also noted that there had been a marked increase in issues concerning Rock Creek over the past 25 years.
Upon further discussion by the board, the supervisors agreed to table the agenda item and asked township engineer Tim Knoebel to review the plan and make advisory comments for discussion at the next meeting.
Straban Township will meet on February 3rd to discuss the project.
For additional information on the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors meeting, please see agenda at:
Cumberland TS BOS Agenda Jan 28, 2025
Featured image caption: Rock Creek [Melissa A. Winn ]
Donate Gardner is a freelance journalist who came to Gettysburg in 2021 from Montgomery County, Maryland.
A former linguist-turned-legal professional, Donate recently retired from the corporate world and is eager to support her new community in a variety of ways. She currently serves as the news communicator for the Adams County migrant outreach program, Pasa La Voz.
As an immigrant born, raised, and educated in Germany, Donate still maintains a strong connection to the German language as a writer and translator. Donate is an active musician and has made her new home in Gettysburg available to host house concerts for traveling musicians and local artists in need of support. Donate and her husband have two daughters and three grandchildren.