State Bill Threatens Ag ReserveIt’s not too late to weigh in on proposed legislation in the Maryland legislature that would override a Montgomery County zoning law (ZTA 20-01) protecting farmland in the Ag Reserve from large-scale solar facilities. You can read about this issue on our website. Montgomery County Sen. Brian Feldman 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 is needed in Maryland but it should not supplant farmland. Counties must retain a say on where energy facilities are placed. You can also act on this issue on Montgomery Countryside Alliance’s website.
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