In a move reflecting the wider trend of state intervention in local energy politics, Baltimore County has initiated legislation to regulate small-scale solar farms, while grappling with statewide bills that could diminish its authority over such matters. On Monday, county council members passed a measure focusing on solar facilities that generate less than one megawatt – a category that will remain under local control, per recent state legislation. According to FOX Baltimore, the local bill calls for a certain distance between the smallest of these solar facilities and sets requirements for landscaping.
The move is pegged to legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly, notably the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, which streamlines solar and energy storage projects. The act also curtails the ability of counties to employ overly restrictive zoning laws to impede projects meeting state standards, which has generated mixed reactions from local politicians and residents alike. Delegate C.T. Wilson emphasized the importance of the law in facilitating the transition to renewable energy. At the same time, County Council member Wade Kach expressed his dissatisfaction, questioning the reduced say for the public in these processes, as reported by WYPR.
One of the more contentious cases in this developing jurisdictional tiff is Dr. Ben Carson's proposal to establish a solar farm in northern Baltimore County. Despite Carson's fame as a neurosurgeon, his venture into renewables has sparked opposition from neighbors and local advocacy groups. Carson's property is under a leasing agreement with Nexamp, and the venture could yield significant returns, but objections center on the use of agricultural land and the ensuing visual impact. Community members like Sam Blum have bitter grievances over this transformation of farmland, as per an interview in The Baltimore Banner.
At the state level, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, also a senior vice president for solar firm CI Renewables, was integral to the passage of the comprehensive energy package that sparked this debate. While concerns about Ferguson's potential conflict of interest have arisen, he assured that his experience in the sector has merely informed his approach to crafting the oft-complex renewable energy legislation. The future of Carson's project, and others like it, may hinge on Governor Wes Moore's decision on the solar law, which awaits his signature or possible veto until Memorial Day. According to FOX Baltimore, Renee Hamidi from the Valleys Planning Council staunchly opposes solar farms on agricultural land, a sentiment echoed across multiple rural communities in the county.
