State Solar Bill Threatens Ag Reserve Land

Please Weigh In – Act Now

It’s not too late to weigh in on a proposed bill in the Maryland legislature that will profoundly affect where ground-based solar facilities can be placed. As written, the bill would allow them on good quality farmland. That would override a Montgomery County zoning law (ZTA 20-01) protecting farmland in the Ag Reserve.

This link makes commenting on the legislation easy. Takes just minutes.

You can read about this issue on our website.

State Senator Brian Feldman of Montgomery County is chief sponsor of the legislation—The Renewable Energy Certainty Act (SB 931/ HB1036).

We oppose the bill as written. The Montgomery County Council opposes it as well. We urge you to do the same by emailing Sen. Feldman and other District 15 lawmakers: Linda Foley, David Fraser-Hidalgo and Lily Qi.

The message is simple:

Please amend this legislation to prevent the siting of large solar energy and/or battery storage facilities on good quality farmland throughout the state. More solar energy installations are needed in Maryland but they should not supplant farmland. Counties must retain a say on where energy facilities are placed.

Please Support Renewable Energy Bill

Maryland is the only state in the country that classifies burning trash as renewable energy. Because of this, we send millions of rate payer dollars to the company that operates the Dickerson Incinerator—instead of expanding truly clean energy such as solar and wind.

The Maryland assembly is debating legislation this year that will remove trash incineration from “tier 1” of the state’s renewable portfolio standard. We support this bill. Please email your state delegates (mentioned above) and ask them to support it as well. Sen. Brian Feldman is chair of the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. He has the power to make this happen.

Reminder: SCA Annual Meeting March 29

You’re invited to our annual meeting on Saturday March 29, 9:00am to 11:30am, at Linden Farm, 20900 Martinsburg Rd, Dickerson MD. Join your neighbors for a presentation by MCA Executive Director Caroline Taylor on our area’s aquifer, and discussion of important local issues SCA is tracking—including:

• The debate over where ground-based solar facilities should be placed

• The County’s waste management plans

• The status of the proposed data center in Dickerson.

Coffee and light refreshments will be available. No RSVP needed.

You’ll also be voting on SCA’s proposed Board of Directors slate for 2025-2026. This all-volunteer group oversees SCA’s activities and advocacy. Here’s the proposed 18-member board. Nominees new to the board are noted:

Officers
Steven Findlay, President
Lauren Greenberger, Vice President
Heidi Rosvold-Brenholtz, Secretary
Scott Rockafellow, Treasurer

Board Members
James Brown
Jay Cinque
Beth Daly (new)
Andrew Donaldson
Connie Golleher (new)
Ellen Gordon
Marcey Guramatunhu
Shelley Heron
Tom Hoffman (new)
Jane Hunter
Lili Leonard
Jim McDonald (new)
Gil Rocha
Chris Williams

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