This public evidence file organizes the facts, project timeline, public records, environmental concerns, township issues, NYISO interconnection links, agency-review concerns, and community comments surrounding the proposed RWE Stargazer Solar Project in McKean County, Pennsylvania.
Last updated: May 14, 2026
This is not a rooftop solar project. It is a utility-scale energy development with land-control, environmental, water, stormwater, wildlife, interconnection, public-safety, township-ordinance, and long-term enforcement concerns that deserve careful public review.
RWE publicly describes Stargazer as a 480 MW solar project located several miles south of Smethport, Pennsylvania. RWE also states that the project would power more than 77,000 homes, would remain under RWE ownership from construction through decommissioning, and is currently in development. Those claims are only the starting point. Residents and public officials should also examine acreage, site-control documents, township filings, environmental studies, agency correspondence, interconnection references, stormwater impacts, public-safety planning, battery-storage context, road impacts, water-resource protections, decommissioning security, and long-term enforcement obligations.
Purpose of this page:
This page is intended to organize public concerns, source links, public records, and community discussion. It should not be read as an agency finding, court finding, or final determination. It is a public evidence file for residents, reviewing agencies, local governments, and anyone trying to understand the proposed RWE Stargazer Solar Project.
RWE publicly describes Stargazer as a 480 MW solar project.
RWE publicly claims the project would power more than 77,000 homes.
RWE’s current public status for the project.
Public queue references commonly associated with Stargazer I and Stargazer II.
Public queue and PNDI materials should be reviewed for solar, energy-storage, and transmission implications.
The March 2025 PNDI receipt identifies this project-area figure for Stargazer Renewable Development.
The PNDI response indicates tree removal, cutting, or forest clearing would exceed 50 acres.
PFBC materials identify potential impacts requiring further review for protected species and aquatic resources.
One of the most important local filing and permit-review anchors in the public record.
Important because stronger local ordinance language provides a comparison point.
RWE says the project is several miles south of Smethport on privately owned land.
Bottom line:
The size, location, interconnection context, local filings, and public-agency concerns are enough to require serious public review. A 480 MW project should not be reduced to slogans, assumptions, or informal assurances.
The proposed RWE Stargazer Solar Project has raised public concerns about land use, water resources, stormwater, wildlife habitat, battery-storage implications, township protections, agency review, and the timeline of project-related communications. This page organizes those concerns so residents, public officials, and reviewing agencies can better understand why many people believe the project deserves close scrutiny.
Residents want to understand the full project footprint, including leased acreage, disturbed acreage, access roads, transmission infrastructure, staging areas, fencing, grading, and long-term land conversion.
Public concern includes how construction and long-term operation could affect streams, wetlands, springs, wells, headwaters, drainageways, runoff patterns, erosion, sediment, and downstream properties.
The project area should be reviewed for habitat impacts, forest fragmentation, aquatic resources, protected species, migratory birds, and cumulative effects across the surrounding landscape.
Any battery energy storage connection, reservation, future option, or interconnection-related storage component deserves separate public attention, local review, emergency planning, and enforceable safeguards.
Residents are comparing township and county protections because weak ordinance language can leave local communities exposed on decommissioning, escrow, enforcement, water protection, ownership transfer, and emergency response.
Public comments, recorded agreements, easement records, agency correspondence, environmental reviews, and project documents have raised concerns about how long project-related land-control, access, easement, wildlife, waterway, and township discussions may have been occurring before the broader public became aware of the proposal.
Public records matter:
The more complete the public record becomes, the easier it is for residents, townships, county officials, and reviewing agencies to evaluate the project based on documents rather than marketing claims or informal assurances.
The timeline below should be treated as a working public timeline. Additional records may expand or clarify the timeline as more public documents, recorded agreements, easements, agency correspondence, township files, environmental reviews, and project materials become available.
Early land-control context
A later recorded easement document references an Option to Purchase dated September 10, 2021 involving RWE Solar Development, LLC and property tied to John Hancock / Manulife interests. The document states that, as of the later agreement, the option remained in full force and effect. This is an important timeline anchor because it suggests project-related land-control activity may trace back years before the Stargazer Solar Project became widely known to many local residents.
Public queue context
Public queue tracking shows Stargazer I and Stargazer II references tied to C24-175 and C24-176, commonly surfaced with solar and energy-storage context and a Homer City to Pierce Brook 345 kV point-of-interconnection reference. This is part of why residents are looking beyond the public marketing description and reviewing the broader interconnection record.
PNDI review context
The PNDI receipt for Stargazer Renewable Development identifies the project category as energy storage, production, and transfer / solar power facility, lists a project area of 4,871.29 acres, names Hamlin, Norwich, and Sergeant Townships, identifies Clarion and Upper Allegheny watershed context, and shows PFBC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service potential-impact responses requiring additional review.
RWE / CEC PFBC submission context
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., on behalf of RWE Clean Energy, LLC, submitted additional information to PFBC describing Stargazer as a proposed utility-scale solar and storage facility that would include solar arrays, battery storage, appurtenant structures, and access routes. The letter states that final development plans had not yet been completed and that potential waterway impacts or impacts within 100 feet of waterways were still unknown.
PFBC species-impact review context
PFBC correspondence under SIR #61250 recommended a Timber Rattlesnake habitat assessment due to proximity to known critical habitat, requested additional Blue-Spotted Salamander habitat evaluation, and identified rare or protected fish-species concerns including Bigmouth Shiner and Burbot.
Fish habitat and pre-application context
CEC, on behalf of RWE, requested PFBC analysis and additional information on preferred or known habitats for Bigmouth Shiner and Burbot. The letter stated that potential impacts to waterways or areas within 100 feet of waterways were unknown, that crossings and encroachments may be necessary for access roads and connection lines, and that CEC wanted to facilitate a pre-application meeting with PFBC and RWE.
PFBC follow-up review context
PFBC repeated its review concerns, including Timber Rattlesnake habitat-assessment needs, Blue-Spotted Salamander habitat-assessment needs, and the need for more information to evaluate potential adverse impacts to rare or protected fish species. PFBC also referenced the need for qualified biologists and proper permits for protected-species work.
Habitat assessment context
A Timber Rattlesnake habitat assessment was conducted after field visits on June 29, June 30, and July 1, 2025, with the report dated July 10, 2025. The report describes the project as rural forested acreage proposed for solar energy production and battery storage and documents potential Timber Rattlesnake habitat features within the investigation area.
Recorded easement context
A recorded Grant of Easement involving John Hancock / Manulife-related property, Lyme New York Headwaters LLC, and RWE Solar Development, LLC includes easement-area mapping and recitals referencing the earlier 2021 RWE option. This helps connect recorded land records, access rights, easement rights, and the longer project-development timeline.
PFBC Timber Rattlesnake review context
PFBC correspondence states that the July 10 habitat report identified four elements of potential Timber Rattlesnake habitat within the investigation area: one element of potential denning habitat and three elements of potential gestation habitat. PFBC noted that denning / overwintering habitat cannot be replaced and recommended moving limits of disturbance 300 feet away from mapped overwintering areas or conducting presence / absence surveys if relocation cannot be done.
Public presentation context
Local reporting covered Stargazer Solar being presented publicly, showing the project’s move into broader local public discussion. When compared with the 2021 option reference and 2025 agency-review materials, this public-presentation date helps show why residents are asking how long project-related planning, land control, environmental review, and agency consultation may have been underway before broader public awareness.
PFBC updated species-review context
PFBC’s later SIR #61250 correspondence repeats Timber Rattlesnake concerns and states that a Blue-Spotted Salamander habitat assessment identified 21 elements of potential habitat within the investigation area. PFBC stated the proposed project would most likely impact potential habitat for the species of concern and requested presence / absence surveys. PFBC also continued to request more information to evaluate potential impacts to rare or protected fish species.
Local filing context
Sergeant Township filing and notice activity became especially important because it provides one of the clearest local anchors for comparing public claims to actual project paperwork, local ordinance requirements, township-level review, environmental-record materials, and project-scope representations.
The following excerpts come from public social-media discussions related to the proposed RWE Stargazer Solar Project, Clermont Solar, local land-use concerns, environmental issues, and project transparency. Names have been removed here because the purpose of this page is not to target individuals. The purpose is to preserve the substance of public concerns and identify issues that deserve review through records, permits, agency correspondence, and local-government files.
Important note:
These excerpts are included as public-comment excerpts only. They are not presented as verified findings, agency conclusions, court findings, legal admissions, or admissions of legal responsibility. Some excerpts have been shortened for readability, but the meaning has not been intentionally changed. Source screenshots and PDF copies should be retained separately for recordkeeping because social-media posts and comments can be edited, deleted, hidden, or removed.
Public comment excerpt
“RWE certainly isnt happy with how Clermont E&S is being handled. They know it gives others a black eye. Yes, Something clearly needs done at the Clermont Project.”
Source retained: public social-media discussion screenshot.
Public comment excerpt
“I along with a few others have considered some of the issues at Clermont and have passed it on to others Solar companies so some of the same issues don't arise with their projects.”
Source retained: public social-media discussion screenshot.
Public comment excerpt
“He made them address the environmental concerns. Along with the other community concerns.”
Source retained: public social-media discussion screenshot.
Public comment excerpt
“Business 101, do NOT discuss your business plans!”
Source retained: public social-media discussion screenshot.
Public comment excerpt
“The solar complex we already have is a complete mess.”
Source retained: public social-media discussion screenshot.
Public comment excerpt
“Destroying our forests is not green. Destroying our water is not green.”
Source retained: public social-media discussion screenshot.
Why these comments matter:
These comments do not prove every concern as fact. They do show why residents are asking for a complete public record. Comments referencing Clermont, environmental concerns, private project discussions, and timing of disclosure all point back to the same core issue: the public needs records, maps, permits, agency correspondence, township files, and enforceable protections before a project of this size moves further.
Follow the Protect McKean County Wilds Facebook page to like, share, comment, and join the public discussion about RWE Stargazer, Clermont Solar, local ordinances, public records, and energy development in McKean County.
Follow Protect McKean County Wilds on FacebookResidents are requesting careful review by relevant agencies because project materials and PFBC correspondence show potential issues involving streams, wetlands, waterway crossings, erosion and sediment control, Timber Rattlesnake habitat, Blue-Spotted Salamander habitat, rare or protected fish species, aquatic resources, public roads, emergency-response planning, local land-use protections, and long-term environmental obligations.
DEP review should address erosion and sediment control, stormwater, wetlands, waterways, water-quality protection, construction impacts, post-construction runoff, and permit compliance.
EPA review may be relevant where water quality, federal clean-water issues, downstream impacts, wetlands, stormwater, or broader environmental compliance questions are implicated.
USFWS review should consider habitat, protected species, migratory birds, forest fragmentation, project footprint, and cumulative impacts across the affected landscape.
PFBC review should address trout waters, aquatic habitat, stream crossings, drainage changes, sedimentation risk, and impacts to waterways within and downstream of the project area.
DOI review may be relevant where federal wildlife, habitat, land, energy, or interagency environmental-review issues are implicated.
County and township officials should examine whether local ordinances are strong enough to address water protection, decommissioning, BESS, emergency response, escrow, ownership transfer, and enforcement.
Agency record concern:
Public confidence depends on complete records, clear agency review, transparent correspondence, careful field documentation, and enforceable conditions where needed. Large utility-scale energy projects should be reviewed through documents, not assumptions.
One of the clearest public concerns is that not every township has the same level of written protection. The exact language of township and county rules matters because what is not required in writing can become the public’s problem later.
Sergeant Township is one of the most important filing anchors in the public record. Permit narrative material tied to Sergeant Township helps connect public claims to local documentation, acreage references, exhibits, and project details.
Norwich is important because stronger ordinance language provides a useful benchmark, especially on BESS coverage, water protection, escrow, transfer rules, and decommissioning language.
Hamlin matters because it helps show how narrower or weaker local-law language can leave townships more exposed when a large project is pushed into the area.
Keating belongs in the conversation because the project story is regional, not isolated. Residents deserve to see the full footprint instead of having each piece treated like it exists in a vacuum.
Utility-scale solar is not just a set of panels. It can involve clearing, grading, access roads, fencing, drainage changes, stormwater infrastructure, waterway crossings, electrical equipment, substations, transmission connections, battery storage, vegetation changes, protected-species review, and long-term maintenance obligations. PFBC and PNDI materials make those details especially important in McKean County.
Residents want a complete public accounting of affected watersheds, headwater areas, streams, wetlands, springs, seeps, drainageways, and downstream receiving waters.
Residents are concerned about modeling, construction-phase controls, post-construction stormwater plans, inspection records, maintenance obligations, and accountability for downstream impacts.
Habitat assessments, PNDI review, wildlife studies, agency correspondence, forest-fragmentation analysis, and mitigation commitments all matter to the public record.
Baseline testing, post-construction testing, complaint procedures, replacement-water commitments, and written responsibility for any impacts to private water supplies should be part of the discussion.
Road-use agreements, haul-route disclosure, bonding, repair obligations, traffic-control plans, noise expectations, dust control, and construction-hour limits should be reviewed.
Cumulative impacts matter when solar, storage, transmission, access roads, substations, forest conversion, and other energy projects are considered together.
Residents should not be asked to rely only on a project marketing page. Interconnection references help show how the project fits into the larger grid picture, what facilities may be involved, and whether public descriptions match the technical record.
Residents are not only concerned about one project. They are also concerned about whether McKean County and its townships have strong enough standards to protect water, roads, emergency services, residents, taxpayers, and the landscape when utility-scale energy projects are proposed.
If a project is safe, responsible, and beneficial, it should survive strong rules. It should survive independent peer review. It should survive serious decommissioning requirements. It should survive clear battery-storage regulation, water protection, emergency-response planning, escrow requirements, ownership-transfer controls, and enforcement provisions.
Projects that require weak ordinances, vague assurances, or a passive public deserve the hardest look.
This section links to public-facing materials and source references connected to the proposed RWE Stargazer Solar Project. Documents are listed so residents, township officials, county officials, and reviewing agencies can inspect the underlying record directly instead of relying only on summaries, meeting comments, or marketing claims.
Document note:
These PDFs should be treated as source documents and public-record materials. The links below use descriptive file names for clarity, search visibility, and easier public sharing. If a file name changes, update the matching link in this section.
Public petition centered on protecting McKean County from RWE’s 480 MW Stargazer Solar and transmission project.
Open Change.org PetitionQueue and interconnection links that help place the project into the larger grid context.
RWE Solar Development, LLC solar system permit application and project narrative submitted for Sergeant Township review, including project scope, site-plan exhibits, BESS references, stormwater materials, decommissioning materials, and supporting exhibits.
Open Sergeant Township permit application PDFMarch 20, 2026 letter from RWE counsel regarding the McKean County SALDO, proposed solar ordinance language, grandfathering claims, and potential litigation positions involving the Stargazer Solar Project.
Open RWE legal letter PDFMarch 26, 2025 CEC submission on behalf of RWE describing Stargazer as a utility-scale solar and storage facility with solar arrays, battery storage, appurtenant structures, access routes, ongoing natural-resource delineations, and uncertain waterway impacts.
Open CEC / PFBC PNDI submission PDFPFBC SIR #61250 correspondence identifying Timber Rattlesnake, Blue-Spotted Salamander, Bigmouth Shiner, and Burbot review issues for Stargazer Renewable Development.
Open PFBC April 2025 SIR PDFMay 9, 2025 CEC correspondence on behalf of RWE requesting additional information on Bigmouth Shiner and Burbot habitat, noting uncertain waterway impacts, and including project-area maps.
Open CEC / PFBC response PDFPFBC SIR #61250 follow-up correspondence again addressing Timber Rattlesnake, Blue-Spotted Salamander, Bigmouth Shiner, and Burbot review issues and additional evaluation needs.
Open PFBC May 2025 SIR PDFJuly 10, 2025 Timber Rattlesnake habitat assessment prepared for CEC / RWE after field visits in late June and early July 2025, evaluating potential habitat within the Stargazer investigation area.
Open Timber Rattlesnake habitat assessment PDFPFBC SIR #61250 correspondence discussing four identified potential Timber Rattlesnake habitat elements, including potential denning and gestation habitat, and additional Blue-Spotted Salamander / fish-species review issues.
Open PFBC October 2025 SIR PDFPFBC SIR #61250 correspondence discussing Timber Rattlesnake protections, Blue-Spotted Salamander habitat findings, requested presence / absence surveys, and ongoing rare or protected fish-species review needs.
Open PFBC January 2026 SIR PDFRecorded memorandum involving John Hancock Life Insurance Company, Manulife Investment Management Timberland and Agriculture Inc., and RWE Solar Development, LLC, including option-to-purchase record details and related property descriptions.
Open John Hancock / Manulife option PDFRecorded Grant of Easement involving John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company / Manulife, Lyme New York Headwaters LLC, and RWE Solar Development, LLC. The document states that Grantor and RWE entered into an Option to Purchase dated September 10, 2021, as amended and assigned, and that the option remained in full force and effect as of the 2025 agreement.
Open Lyme New York Headwaters easement PDFRecorded memorandum of exclusive option to purchase involving David A. Okerlund, Tanya R. Okerlund, and RWE Solar Development, LLC. Instrument 202504113, recorded December 15, 2025.
Open Okerlund option PDF - 202504113Recorded option and transmission line and access easement involving David A. Okerlund, Tanya R. Okerlund, and RWE Solar Development, LLC. Instrument 202504114, recorded December 15, 2025.
Open Okerlund easement PDF - 202504114Recorded memorandum of exclusive option to purchase involving David A. Okerlund, Tanya R. Okerlund, and RWE Solar Development, LLC. Instrument 202600049, recorded January 8, 2026.
Open Okerlund option PDF - 202600049Recorded option and transmission line and access easement involving David A. Okerlund, Tanya R. Okerlund, and RWE Solar Development, LLC. Instrument 202600051, recorded January 8, 2026.
Open Okerlund easement PDF - 202600051Why the document library matters:
A project of this size should be evaluated through source documents: permit applications, recorded land-control documents, legal correspondence, interconnection references, public petitions, township files, agency records, PNDI receipts, PFBC correspondence, habitat assessments, and environmental materials. Keeping these documents organized makes it easier for the public to follow the record and harder for key details to disappear into scattered files or meeting-room summaries.
RWE publicly describes Stargazer as 480 MW. Residents should keep asking how that translates into acreage, clearing, grading, fencing, roads, infrastructure, transmission, stormwater controls, and long-term land conversion on the ground.
That is too narrow a way to describe a utility-scale project. Public queue and filing context should be reviewed for energy storage, site engineering, roads, drainage, fencing, substations, transmission connections, and long-term enforcement obligations.
Private land rights matter, but industrial-scale projects can affect neighbors, townships, roads, drainage, emergency services, water resources, wildlife habitat, local tax obligations, and the long-term character of the area.
Because what is not required in writing can become everybody else’s problem later. Strong ordinances force clarity, accountability, technical review, financial security, public-safety planning, and better long-term enforcement.
Public comments and project documents have raised concerns about how long project-related discussions may have been happening before the broader public became aware of Stargazer. A clearer public timeline would help residents, townships, and reviewing agencies understand the project record.
A project of this size should be reviewed through records, maps, permits, agency correspondence, township filings, public comments, and enforceable protections — not just broad marketing claims. Read the record. Preserve the documents. Share the evidence.
Printed from Protect McKean County Wilds: https://protectmckeancountywilds.com/rwe-stargazer.html
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