HARMONY TOWNSHIP 600 ACRE SOLAR PROJECT

 

In the 1990’s, the NJDEP identified the Garrison Road area in Harmony Township as a Natural Heritage Priority Site for Grassland Bird species. This is the same NJDEP designated status as PRO’s grassland bird sanctuary on Oberly Road in Pohatcong.

 

In 2008, Eastern Env Law Clinic had represented PRO in the Dowel lawsuit filed as a Mt Laurel builder’s remedy lawsuit against Harmony Township. The engineer retained by EELC showed that waste water and stormwater disposal from the proposed 315 units would be difficult due to the karst topography. Eventually Harmony Township purchased the 185 acres for six million.

 

Several years ago, Harmony Township offered its 185 acres for a solar project. The owners of nearby agricultural lands also joined in project expanding it to 600 acres.  It would require an electric substation to be constructed.

 

In the Fall of 2025, the solar project owner asked for an extension on the approvals. Resident Dave Markle collected signatures on a petition and presented them to the governing body at an official meeting.

 

The petition argued that the township had purchased the 185  acres on the promise that it would be kept as farmland. Mike King provided background information to Dave Markle about the litigation leading to the purchase of the 185 acres and had documents posted to the PRO website.

 

Nonetheless, at a special Township meeting on December 30, the governing body extended the approval for solar on the 185 acres.