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Counties and towns across the country are trying to figure out where to put (and not put) large ground-based solar and wind facilities to generate renewable energy—even as demand for energy is rapidly rising. Locally, we have an acute situation on that issue. A company called Chaberton Solar has proposed building solar facilities on farmland in the Ag Reserve. The facilities would exceed the limits Montgomery County law places on ground-based solar in the Ag Reserve. You can read all about these proposals and our opposition to them on our website. On Feb. 4, the state agency that will decide the fate of one of Chaberton’s proposals is holding a public hearing. If you care where and under what set of rules solar will be sited in the Ag Reserve, we urge you to attend this hearing and/or make your views known to the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). When is the hearing? Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Where? The Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department, 19801 Beallsville Road in Beallsville. Who’s allowed to testify: Anyone Can I testify virtually? Yes, but you’ll need to sign up in advance to speak by sending an email to psc.pulj@gmail.com by noon on Feb. 3. You’ll then receive an email with the link to join in. Can I write in with my views? Yes, written comments can be sent (by Feb. 7) through the PSC’s online portal https://www.psc.state.md.us/make-a-public-comment/. You can also send a snail-mail letter with your comments to: Jamie Bergin, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Note Case No. 9726 in your letter. Can I just tune in and listen? Yes, on YouTube at https://bit.ly/2X6wLiP The solar facility in question would encompass approximately 16 acres of farmland on a 53-acre property at 20507 Darnestown Rd. in Dickerson. The hearing will include a presentation by Chaberton, followed by brief statements from the Power Plant Research Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Montgomery County; the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel; and the Commission’s staff. All that will be followed by public testimony.
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