As written, the ZTA only protects Class I soils, (shown here in red) much of which are in the middle of the River and not currently farmed. All areas in orange and peach (Class II and III soils) are considered productive soils that are host to the 500+ farms in the Agricultural Reserve.
MCA has been productively engaged with farmers, other civic orgs and solar industry representatives in a work group to amend ZTA 20-01. As currently written this proposal will allow 3 square miles of commercial solar arrays in the Agricultural Reserve with scant protections for productive soils, forests and water quality. (full fact sheet here)
A number of local environmental groups have been engaged to urge that solar siting in the county take protection of natural resources into account. Adding to the list, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The most recent copy of Bay Journal has an illuminating piece from long time land use expert Lee Epstein, the director of Lands programs at CBF. It reads in part:
"Clearing forests, wetlands, or prime farmland for solar farms can degrade wildlife habitat and diminish the land’s ability to naturally filter and clean water, adding more pollution to rivers and streams. Such actions can also undermine the effort to fight climate change. Forests and wetlands capture and store carbon in their own right, and they provide important buffers against extreme weather".
This article is one of many documents in the google drive for the solar working group. Though only given 4 meetings to discuss possible amendments to the ZTA, the work group will continue to meet. In the absence of the County's infrastructure to host this virtual meeting and make it open to the public, MCA has stepped up to do so. Please stay tuned.
