County Executive Fights For Stronger Solar Panel Laws

As the eight-month interim on solar panel projects nears its end, Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh stated Tuesday legislation encouraging approval specifications for more massive solar panel developments.

But the more delicate details of these differences have not been made public. The county has not released the related legislation.

Schuh’s changes would provide solar panels on residential homes in any community. But community and utility projects of larger scale magnification developments will require special privileges in rural-agriculture zones but not in other areas.

Special Exemptions Require A Public Hearing

Special exemptions require a public hearing before endorsement. Community solar projects are those developed to benefit a gathering of residents or a multi-unit building. Utility plans are larger-scale communities, such as the one built at the former Annapolis landfill.
The recommended changes eventually strengthen the county’s solar panel zoning laws. They originally allowed the plans as dependent uses in rural-agricultural zones. Opposition from citizens and the advocacy organization Growth Action Network urged the county to rethink its rules.

“Planning and Zoning’s eight-month moratorium has produced a measured, thoughtful approach to solar facilities in Anne Arundel County,” Schuh said in a report. “I believe our proposed legislation will strike a much-needed balance between supporting renewable energy and protecting the rural character of our county.”

Energy companies have been working for and against solar for a long time.  We can only hope that the move to renewable energy becomes the norm over time. 

Solar industry leaders have been cynical of the county’s decision to halt solar panel development for eight months while five community projects were in development. Spokespeople from MDV-SEIA declined to comment on Schuh’s announcement because the legislation had not been released. MDV-SEIA represents the solar industry in Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware and Virginia.

The Agriculture Farming and Agritourism Commission Endorsement

The Agriculture Farming and Agritourism Commission endorsed the moratorium after concerns were raised among the five proposed projects. The committee then held conferences to deliver recommendations on how to carry out solar panel developments. Democratic county executive hopeful Steuart Pittman — who owns an agriculture business — serves on the commission.

The county demonstrated a shortness of vision by not altering its zoning rules as the solar industry grew, Pittman said. He will meet off with Schuh in the November general ballot.

Pittman owns a farm and said he thinks panels should be supported on farms, but residents should have a say on neighborhood influence.

“That’s why we needed a moratorium because we failed to plan,” Pittman said. “The result is we have communities upset about proposed projects and solar companies have lost a whole lot of money planning for something that was legal and now may not be.”

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar