Public commenter raises concerns about local procurement and solar-panel recycling
Summary
A resident urged the district to buy from local vendors and warned about potential solar-panel waste and lack of Pennsylvania recycling policy for end-of-life panels at a nearby data center/solar project.
During public comment, resident Bill Weidner asked the board whether the district would favor local vendors when making purchases and questioned recent procurement choices. He also raised broader environmental concerns about a nearby data center/solar project and recycling of solar panels, saying Pennsylvania lacks clear recycling policy for photovoltaic panels.
"We need to buy local. Our local vendors are taxpayers in this district," Weidner said, urging support for area businesses. He also warned about end-of-life solar waste: "Pennsylvania has no policy for recycling the solar panels and stuff. There's very little out there for recycling, and it's I just can't believe what it's gonna do to the landfills." The commenter made numerical claims about electricity use and project expansion that were not verified during the meeting.
The superintendent invited the commenter to meet with staff to discuss staffing and procurement questions and offered to follow up on specific items.
What happens next: The board did not take formal action on procurement policy or the solar claims during the meeting; the superintendent offered to follow up with the commenter.
