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Commissioners flag power-line access roads, press Public Service Commission on local control for solar projects
Summary
Commissioners raised concerns about new transmission power-line filings that would add hundreds of access roads and acres of land disturbance, and urged the Public Service Commission not to waive local permitting and standards for solar projects.
Carroll County commissioners used their Feb. 27 session to highlight continuing local opposition to new transmission and solar projects and to urge that state regulators preserve local review authority.
Commissioner Rothstein reported new data from local opponents: "There are going to be 303 access roads created for the power lines across all 3 counties, and that's going to destroy another 140 acres of land," he said, referring to an updated filing by a group working on the transmission line reviews.
Commissioner Garen and others said the county remains engaged on solar project proceedings before the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). Garen reiterated the board's earlier policy that solar should not be sited on agricultural land and pressed for strict local controls where projects proceed. "My biggest concern is that PSC don't waive our local control," Garen said. "We will work with the developer, with the solar company, with the property owner, but they need to have proper screening. They need to have proper offsets. They need to have proper stormwater management. Please don't start doing a bunch of waivers where we don't get to review that."
Commissioner Rothstein thanked local groups and activists for contributing numbers to the county's review and said staff will try to obtain Carroll County'specific impacts from the multi-county filing. Commissioners repeatedly encouraged residents to testify at PSC hearings (virtually or in person) and to submit written comments.
No formal action was taken during the session. Commissioners said they will continue to coordinate with county departments, the county's legislative team, and community groups to track PSC proceedings and to press for local protections if projects are approved.
