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Planning commission backs county move to mirror Queen Annes county solar compensation proposal
Summary
Carolines planning commission voted to ask county commissioners to prepare legislation substantially similar to Queen Annes recently introduced compensatory preservation contribution for utility‑scale solar on prime soils; the commission requested broader coverage than Queen Anne's single‑class approach.
The Planning Commission voted to send a letter to the county commissioners recommending they prepare legislation substantially similar to recently introduced Queen Annes County legislation that would impose a per‑acre compensatory preservation contribution on utility‑scale and community solar projects sited on prime agricultural soils.
Planning staff described Queen Annes proposal as a $4,500 per‑acre fee on Class 1 soils, paid by project sponsors at permit issuance, with the funds placed in a county account to purchase agricultural conservation easements. Staff asked the planning commission for a preliminary endorsement so county counsel and planning could draft local legislation rapidly. Commissioners and staff discussed whether to apply a single‑class (Class 1) approach or include Class 2 and other USDA prime or statewide importance designations; a commissioner proposed a graded fee structure with higher payments for higher‑quality soils.
Commissioners also discussed timing and applicability to pending applicants. Staff recommended applying any fee to new applications at the point of formal application or preliminary site plan so projects already advanced through engineering or preliminary approvals would not be retroactively charged. Commissioners suggested posting a public notice on department webpages and making applicants aware the county is developing an ordinance so no applicant can claim lack of notice.
After discussion commissioners voted unanimously to send a formal recommendation to the county commissioners asking them to prepare legislation substantially similar to Queen Annes Renewable Energy Certainty Act (as referenced in the meeting) but more inclusive of soil classes (1 and 2) or USDA prime farmland categories. The motion passed by voice vote.
Votes at a glance: Planning Commission voted to recommend that county commissioners prepare legislation substantially similar to Queen Annes legislation to establish a compensatory preservation contribution on solar projects; motion passed by voice vote.
