Organizer says solar petition fell short after deadline change; urges caution on community solar contracts

Jay Falstegg, speaking for the Queen Anne’s Conservation Association, told the Board of County Commissioners that a citizen petition related to local solar siting came up short of the statewide signature threshold and that the Board of Elections changed the deadline in a way he said hindered the drive.

"Surprise, we've changed the deadline to the 30 first at 11:59," Falstegg said, recounting a late notice from the Board of Elections that moved the closing time and which he said forced petitioners into a last-minute effort. Falstegg said the campaign collected signatures in all 23 counties and "came in just under 20,000 signatures"; he said momentum likely would have produced the required totals had the earlier deadline been honored.

Falstegg also urged the county to continue informing landowners about community-solar contracts. He warned that many solar option agreements can convert into binding contracts and that some contracts limit landowners’ future negotiating power. He recommended county warnings to property owners who receive offers and pointed commissioners to legal language in a court decision: he advised staff to review page 37 of the "perennial solar" case, saying the court’s footnote indicates comprehensive plans must be considered by the Public Service Commission when reviewing solar projects.

Falstegg said the largest share of petition signatures came from the Eastern Shore and that Caroline County was third among counties in total signatures. He thanked the three commissioners for signing the petition and said the effort would continue through other avenues because "this is only the very step in a long, long journey." No formal county action was taken at the meeting; the item appeared during public comment.