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Farmers urge limits on solar use of prime soils and more support for value-added agriculture
Summary
Maryland Farm Bureau and farmers told the committee they support renewable goals but oppose solar siting on Class 1 and 2 prime soils; they also urged regulatory relief and funding for value-added farming enterprises and the state's ombudsman for value-added producers.
Carl Schlegel, a Farm Bureau board member representing southern Maryland, told the House Environment and Transportation Committee on Jan. 28 that protecting prime farmland is essential to food security and that solar installations should avoid Class 1 and 2 soils.
"We strongly oppose the placement of solar on prime agricultural soils," Schlegel said, urging use of publicly owned lands, brownfields, rooftops and parking lots before…
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