Community Solar in Carroll County
What is community solar?
Community solar facilities are referred to as “community solar energy generating systems” or “CSEGS” in Maryland law. A community solar facility allows a property owner to use solar energy as a power source without having to install or construct a facility on-site. A community solar facility is a subscription-based service and power supply that provides a credit or reduction in your electric bill in exchange for a monthly subscription fee. A property owner can subscribe to any community solar facility in your power company’s service area with available subscriptions. The facility does not have to be located in Carroll County.
Community Solar Moratorium Process
- January 19, 2023: Presentation to Board of County Commissioners
- March 9, 2023: The Board of County Commissioners adopted a six-month moratorium on the processing, review, permitting, and construction of community solar energy generating systems in the Agricultural Zone.
- March 23, 2023: The Board provided direction to staff on the desired applicability of Section 158.153(E), as well as direction to address the issues in the March 23, 2023, presentation (link below).
- March 29, 2023: Staff provided the Planning and Zoning Commission with an overview of the moratorium and process.
- April 11 to May 1, 2023: The work group met several times to discuss and provide feedback on issues of concern. (See Community Solar in Agricultural Zone Work Group below)
- May 16, 2023: LRM staff finalized and forwarded a staff report to the Board for review.
- May 18, 2023: Board of County Commissioners reviewed staff report and directed staff to present removal of section 158.153(E) “Community solar energy generating systems (CSEGS), in agricultural zones” to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- June 7, 2023: Staff will present potential removal of section 158.153(E) of County code to Planning and Zoning Commission for discussion and recommendation back to the Board of County Commissioners.
Community Solar in Agricultural Zone Work Group:
A work group was formed to discuss and provide feedback on the issues of concern. The work group is comprised of the following individuals, representing the stakeholder groups directed by the Board.
- Cheryl Bosse - adjacent property owner to current proposed CSEGS (Nora Valley)
- Charlie Coggeshall, Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) - community solar industry
- Annette Fleishell - adjacent property owner to current proposed CSEGS (Spring Valley)
- Don Hering, Carroll County Farm Bureau – ag community, not impacted, opposes CSEGS
- Ralph Robertson, Carroll County Farm Bureau – ag community, not impacted, opposes CSEGS
- Patricia Toth – property owner with proposed CSEGS (Chaberton Solar Sunshine)
The work group meetings were not open for public comment, but the meetings were recorded and posted below. While they are not live-streamed, they are available for viewing by clicking the link below. Each meeting is 3 - 4 hours in length.
For more information regarding community solar in Carroll County or the moratorium process, contact Brenda Dinne at bdinne@carrollcountymd.gov or 410-386-2140.
The video of the Commissioners' discussion and decision to implement the moratorium is below.