The 2 minute story of Commercial Scale Solar proposed in the Ag Reserve (ZTA 20-01):
-Around 3 square miles of commercial scale solar is proposed for Montgomery County's Ag Reserve under ZTA 20-01, first proposed in January 2020. The ZTA will have a vote in September at the full County Council.
-Despite many hundreds of letters of concern since January from both up and downcounty, this ZTA still has scant/toothless protection for water quality, forests, and notably productive soils - this in the only part of the County set aside for Agriculture. Reserve farms are mostly on productive soil classes 2 and 3 - there are no protections for these soils in this ZTA (map and table of who farms what soil here). In fact the architect of this ZTA, Councilmember Hans Riemer really showed his retisence to protect agriculture in the Ag Reserve when he said the difference between soil types allowed for siting commercial arrays was akin to roof color, asking "Why would we limit solar to only blue roofs?"
-Around 3 square miles of commercial scale solar is proposed for Montgomery County's Ag Reserve under ZTA 20-01, first proposed in January 2020. The ZTA will have a vote in September at the full County Council.
-Despite many hundreds of letters of concern since January from both up and downcounty, this ZTA still has scant/toothless protection for water quality, forests, and notably productive soils - this in the only part of the County set aside for Agriculture. Reserve farms are mostly on productive soil classes 2 and 3 - there are no protections for these soils in this ZTA (map and table of who farms what soil here). In fact the architect of this ZTA, Councilmember Hans Riemer really showed his retisence to protect agriculture in the Ag Reserve when he said the difference between soil types allowed for siting commercial arrays was akin to roof color, asking "Why would we limit solar to only blue roofs?"
@hansriemer soil class on a farm will determine what food can be grown, comparing it to roof color is rather ludicrous.
— MoCoAlliance (@MoCoAlliance) July 22, 2020
This lack of understanding is the reason the council committee voted to only protect the soils in red (class 1), which through productive, are all riparian buffers or on islands in the Potomac, not farmable.
-Missing from this discussion is what a commercial non-ag use will do to current and future farmers, many of whom lease their land - including every farmer seeking land through our Land Link program. Solar arrays pay more per acre to the landowner but this land was set aside for one purpose...agriculture and solar arrays take land out of farming.
-Though we all want to see the county embrace renewable energy, there is disagreement about this flawed ZTA among local environmental groups. Here are the misconceptions supporters of this ZTA have - notably that arrays would have to be part of the Maryland Community Solar Portfolio meant to be accessible to low income people- false. Without clear stipulation that these commercial facilities will be part of the community solar initiative, energy generated will simply flow to the regional grid providing neither affordable energy for local consumers nor satisfying Montgomery County’s mandate for carbon neutral by 2035.
Before the Council votes on this ZTA next month, they need to hear from you, or hear from you again. Please take 2 minutes to take action - and thank you!
-Though we all want to see the county embrace renewable energy, there is disagreement about this flawed ZTA among local environmental groups. Here are the misconceptions supporters of this ZTA have - notably that arrays would have to be part of the Maryland Community Solar Portfolio meant to be accessible to low income people- false. Without clear stipulation that these commercial facilities will be part of the community solar initiative, energy generated will simply flow to the regional grid providing neither affordable energy for local consumers nor satisfying Montgomery County’s mandate for carbon neutral by 2035.
Before the Council votes on this ZTA next month, they need to hear from you, or hear from you again. Please take 2 minutes to take action - and thank you!
Update: July 2020:
It seems that despite the pandemic, the council will be taking up this ZTA allowing siting industrial solar arrays in the Ag Reserve with no protections for productive soils or forests. The findings of the county's climate working group are clear as the Working Group Chair (reiterated in an email here to the Council here and again by MCA and also by Reserve Architect Dr. Royce Hanson. ) - the Ag Reserve is not the place for industrial solar. (The Maryland Farm Bureau agrees)
An Electrical Systems Engineer Expert Weighs In "You can't change the laws of Physics....ZTA 20-01 is not the answer."
The pandemic makes it very difficult for people to properly participate in the public process (particularly in the Ag Reserve where broadband is not universal) but it has put a fine point on the critical value of local farms and local food. Our Land Link program has connected new and expanding farmers with over 500+ acres of leased land. Non-Ag uses like industrial solar make land leases, the lifeblood of farm ventures large and small in MoCo, much less likely to happen with severe impacts on next generation table crop producers - particularly those from under represented backgrounds. Multi generation ag producers are also opposed to this ZTA.
Click Read More on below for all the background on this issue.
It seems that despite the pandemic, the council will be taking up this ZTA allowing siting industrial solar arrays in the Ag Reserve with no protections for productive soils or forests. The findings of the county's climate working group are clear as the Working Group Chair (reiterated in an email here to the Council here and again by MCA and also by Reserve Architect Dr. Royce Hanson. ) - the Ag Reserve is not the place for industrial solar. (The Maryland Farm Bureau agrees)
An Electrical Systems Engineer Expert Weighs In "You can't change the laws of Physics....ZTA 20-01 is not the answer."
The pandemic makes it very difficult for people to properly participate in the public process (particularly in the Ag Reserve where broadband is not universal) but it has put a fine point on the critical value of local farms and local food. Our Land Link program has connected new and expanding farmers with over 500+ acres of leased land. Non-Ag uses like industrial solar make land leases, the lifeblood of farm ventures large and small in MoCo, much less likely to happen with severe impacts on next generation table crop producers - particularly those from under represented backgrounds. Multi generation ag producers are also opposed to this ZTA.
Click Read More on below for all the background on this issue.
The first committee hearing on this issue was on July 9, read our wrap up here. The second was on July 16 and is wrapped up here. The final committee hearing was on 7/22 and the ZTA - still lacking soil/forest/water protections is headed to the full council in September.
January 2020
After Hearing Update: Last night was the hearing on ZTA 20-01 Giving voice to the imperative to act with forethought and science and sound public policy as guides with regard to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Huge thanks to those who have given their voices through correspondence/calls in the quest to get this right.
There is still time to weigh in as the zoning proposal goes to committee later this month. Writing in takes 2 minutes when you use our quick letter writer here.
Hearing can be viewed here
Read our full hearing wrap up here
Huge thanks to those who have given their voices through correspondence/calls in the quest to get this right.
There is still time to weigh in as the zoning proposal goes to committee later this month. Writing in takes 2 minutes when you use our quick letter writer here.
Hearing can be viewed here
Read our full hearing wrap up here
Update: We've just heard from Dr. David Blockstein, member of the Climate Change Working Group. Like other members of the group his is also urging the Council to await the Climate Action plan that has just been released for public comment - From his testimony "Yes, we have an emergency and we need to act now, but that does not mean that we should forgo analysis and leap to conclusions about where to best put solar generation facilities." The final clean energy plan and the associated summary report show the working group is prioritizing solar in urban areas and carefully considering environmental and human equity impacts. (for more info on baseline data, see the clean energy working group kick off presentation here.)
Another link of interest - the Abell Foundation of Baltimore has released a report on best practices for siting solar arrays in Maryland - spoiler alert- not on prime farmland.
Another link of interest - the Abell Foundation of Baltimore has released a report on best practices for siting solar arrays in Maryland - spoiler alert- not on prime farmland.
Climate Change is an emergency - let's meet this challenge with a comprehensive plan.
UPDATE: The Planning Board just gave preliminary approval to this ZTA- Among the misguided statements, Board Chair Casey Anderson recommended:
- putting arrays in wetlands and stream corridors
- arrays are fine for prime soils, no protections necessary
- arrays are fine on steep slopes (according to solar promotional material in front of him)
- no need to wait for tax payer funded County climate change working group and contractor plan
Update: Testimony Urges Caution
- MCA's Testimony delivered at the Hearing on 3/3 "The stated premise that our protected farmland and open space must give way right now to an industrial use because of urgency and in the absence of a comprehensive plan is deeply flawed"
- Read comments on this ZTA from Royce Hanson (architect of the Ag Reserve and Chair of MCA's Advisory Committee). Bottom Line: "While the motives for the ZTA may be noble, it would seem prudent to think a bit more before acting; to first develop a strategy for achieving the county’s commendable green energy goals in the context of a regional and state strategy. The technology and its costs are changing rapidly. Time is of the essence, but so is avoiding harm in the rush to do good."
- League of Women Voters - LWV of MoCo say look to the master plan and don't change the zoning of the Ag Reserve.
- The Bethesda- Chevy Chase Chapter of the Izaak Walton League Opposes this ZTA "From a conservation, agricultural and food security perspective, more thought must be given to the alternative uses of the spaces on which solar arrays may be placed."
- West Montgomery County Citizens Association "Until all possibilities have been explored, there is no excuse for sacrificing farmland."
- Montgomery County Stormwater Partners Network (38 local civic orgs) "To be in harmony with the Ag Reserve’s climate response role, County zoning code must guide utility-scale solar to compatible locations. This ZTA must wait until the County’s Climate Action Plan and General Plan Update (Thrive 2050) are completed."
Councilmember Riemer's Office has released proposed Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 20-01 that would allow "community solar" (that would actually create power for other states, read on) on up to 1800 acres in Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve. While we do need to enact a wide variety of solutions, including solar, to meet the County's ambitious (but necessary) goal of no net carbon emissions by 2035 , a careful review of solutions is being undertaken by a taxpayer funded Climate Change Working Group made up of scientists, students, community leaders and other professionals organized into technical committees tackling 7 different areas. Since July this group has been laser focused on creating a plan that will implement county-wide solutions, including solar, in a collaborative way. This process needs to be allowed to finish before solutions are implemented - particularly a solution that could take farmland out of production in the Agricultural Reserve.
Learn more about this ZTA and take action (before 3/1) here.
Read testimony from our Executive Director made at the Poolesville Town Hall on this ZTA.
Learn more about this ZTA and take action (before 3/1) here.
Read testimony from our Executive Director made at the Poolesville Town Hall on this ZTA.
Update: This "community solar" initiative would be sited on Montgomery County's crowning land use achievement to protect farmland but any power created would not be used in MoCo. So... these (nearly 2000 Reserve acres) would be commercial facilities whose power can be purchased by other States and would not provide for local access to affordable energy. When asked about this discrepancy... this reply:
As introduced, there is no requirement in ZTA 20-01 that the new solar generator be in the state’s community solar program.
The only limitation on the type of solar is that it must be capable of being connected to the electric grid.
Jeff Zyontz
Senior Legislative Analyst
Montgomery County Council
As introduced, there is no requirement in ZTA 20-01 that the new solar generator be in the state’s community solar program.
The only limitation on the type of solar is that it must be capable of being connected to the electric grid.
Jeff Zyontz
Senior Legislative Analyst
Montgomery County Council
In proposing the ZTA that would take working farmland out of production for solar production - with no protections for fertile soils, water quality, habitat or forested areas - Councilmember Riemer says the Ag Reserve must "do its part" to battle Climate Change. We already are:
- With programs like Re-Leaf the Reserve which provides plantings of native trees to sequester carbon, reduce flooding and improve air quality,
- The promotion of regenerative agricultural practices which increase resilience to climate change
- And helping to preserve farmland to ensure food security in close proximity to our metro center
- As laid out in MCA's Climate Change Response position statement from March 2019- carbon reductions must go hand in hand with water quality protection and other goals as outlined in the Master Plan.
There is still more we can do - as the UN has identified, wise land use is a key climate solution, Montgomery County is ahead of the game in having the open spaces that can be managed for maximum carbon sequestration and resilience - particularly on the topic of food security. MCA was asked to brief the Climate Working Group and provided this overview of how the Reserve can help the County achieve its carbon reduction goals and help local farms weather the changes that are already happening in our warmer world.
Further Reading- How Industrial Solar Impacts...
Farmland and Agriculture:
Farmland and Agriculture:
- North Carolina has moved more substantively into solar arrays on farmland. Extension agents and crop scientists are sounding the alarm on the long term effects of solar for the land and the economy:"Big Solar Farms May be Stressing the Agricultural Ecosystem" Carolina Journal
- In Virginia, rural tidewater counties are also dealing with solar companies seeking large tracts of cheap land. The MCA equivalent organization in Essex County, VA details the water quality challenges, economic issues and other problems with the solar boom there.
- The Wilderness Society answers the question "Where should we site renewable energy production?" - industrial areas.
- The Impact of Renewable Energy Generation on Wildlife - University of Nebraska Lincoln
- Re-Planting Forests is a powerful and cost effective piece of the climate change solution - However, forests themselves are at risk as the result of warming temperatures. Clear cutting for solar releases greenhouse gasses. USDA Mid-Atlantic Forest Vulnerability Assessment
- Industrial Solar has big impacts around the world If planned thoughtfully, solar projects can avoid land-use conflict. "The Dark Side of the Sun: Avoiding Conflict Over Solar Energy’s Land and Water Demands" The Wilson Center
- In Brooklyn, affordable housing is a new frontier for solar installations that have benefits for owners and tenants.
