|
The second new law—the Renewable Energy Certainty Act—aims to significantly expand solar energy generation in Maryland. That’s a good thing. But, unfortunately, one avenue of that expansion gave solar companies easier access to farmland. The upshot is that as many as 120,000 acres of active farmland statewide was potentially opened to ground-based solar facilities. That includes an estimated 5,000 acres in the Ag Reserve. In addition, the law includes significant state pre-emption of long-recognized local zoning laws. Some have called the law a “land grab” by the state. Moreover, the law ignores the growing need to promote farming and food security at a local level amid the climate-change crisis. The solar promotion law is complex and its impact is not yet fully clear. You can read our updated and detailed web post explaining the law here. Thanks much as always for your support of our advocacy on behalf of the Ag Reserve and its residents.
|
