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MACo says Maryland clean‑energy goals driving solar siting pressures on local farmland
Summary
MACo warned the Howard County Council that state renewable procurement and siting policies are creating pressure to convert agricultural land—particularly on the Eastern Shore—into large solar facilities, and noted many siting decisions are state‑level and limit local oversight.
Maryland’s push toward a cleaner energy portfolio is increasing demand for large, utility‑scale solar facilities, Michael Sanderson told the Howard County Council.
"The pressure for low lying areas, mostly agriculture to become basically solar fields is increasing and is gonna continue to increase," Sanderson said. He explained that, because of transmission and practical constraints, much of the new capacity will be sited nearby and that, in many cases, local governments have limited siting oversight because state law treats large solar installations like big power plants.
Sanderson said MACo is working to pair state siting guidance with "carrots" for local communities and to negotiate buffers and road‑setback protections to address local impacts. He urged counties to work with MACo and legislators on policies that balance clean‑energy goals with farm preservation and local infrastructure concerns.
