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Carroll County EAC to update community-solar guidance and study siting, recycling and geothermal performance
Summary
The EAC said it will update a 2019 community-solar subscriber guide, research capital projects that provide environmental and cost benefits, and provide information on solar siting, panel disposal and geothermal performance for county planning and outreach.
Carroll County's Environmental Advisory Council told commissioners it will update county guidance on community solar subscriptions, examine capital projects for both cost savings and environmental co-benefits, and provide more information about solar siting, panel end-of-life disposal and geothermal performance.
Kurt Barrett, EAC chair, said the county's community-solar guidance (originally produced in 2019) focuses on how residents can subscribe to off-site community-solar projects, not how to install on-property systems. Barrett said links and program details in the current guide are out of date and need revision to help residents evaluate offers from solar vendors and understand benefits and costs.
Commissioner Susan Krebs raised two related concerns: protecting agricultural land from large utility-scale solar development and the growing national issue of solar-panel disposal when modules reach end of life. Krebs asked whether the EAC could recommend preferred siting and provide information about recycling or landfill alternatives so the county can plan ahead.
EAC members discussed alternatives, including siting solar arrays over parking lots and other previously developed surfaces to reduce pressure on farmland. An EAC member described engineering ideas such as elevated canopies, tracking mechanisms and gimballed mounts to reduce snow coverage and maintenance impacts; members noted higher initial costs but possible long-term benefits.
On geothermal, commissioners asked staff to gather performance and cost-savings data from prior county and school-system geothermal installations (cited examples included library and Westminster High School projects) so commissioners can assess which technologies and capital approaches make the most sense for future facilities.
The EAC said it will include these topics in the 2026 work plan and provide commissioners with follow-up information to support county policy development and public outreach.
