Where to even begin with this post from Chaberton Energy? This is the same company seeking to end run the Montgomery County master plan and site solar on the Ag Reserve's very best soils. To call it tone deaf is generous.
The Hamilton reference is apt - "But no one else was in the room where it happened..." the solar companies were there, while civic groups representing environmental concerns and Maryland's #1 industry - Agriculture - could not even get a meeting with sponsors. The lawyer for one Maryland Solar company was there because he is also the Senate President and had a major hand in crafting this bill.
SB931, The Renewable Energy act does not "protect" agricultural lands - but instead prioritizes solar on 100,000 acres (5% of each County's priority preservation areas) of land that taxpayers paid for to be preserved in perpetuity. This includes around 5000 acres of Montgomery County's Ag Reserve.
And it's not just the 100k acres. The extremely high prices promised by solar companies (including Chaberton, see below) are sending farmland prices even further out of reach for farmers that want to grow food and fiber.
In the Ag Reserve - an acre goes for around $200/year. These companies are offering 10 and 20 times that. Now we hear companies are offering flat rate bonuses on top of $10,000. The diverse land seekers looking for land through our Land Link program are not offering a bonus to lease land to grow local food. Established Farmers in the Ag Reserve are already loosing leases to solar developments.
One day remains to participate in a long shot referendum effort to get this bill in front of the voters. Click here to learn more and take part.
The Hamilton reference is apt - "But no one else was in the room where it happened..." the solar companies were there, while civic groups representing environmental concerns and Maryland's #1 industry - Agriculture - could not even get a meeting with sponsors. The lawyer for one Maryland Solar company was there because he is also the Senate President and had a major hand in crafting this bill.
SB931, The Renewable Energy act does not "protect" agricultural lands - but instead prioritizes solar on 100,000 acres (5% of each County's priority preservation areas) of land that taxpayers paid for to be preserved in perpetuity. This includes around 5000 acres of Montgomery County's Ag Reserve.
And it's not just the 100k acres. The extremely high prices promised by solar companies (including Chaberton, see below) are sending farmland prices even further out of reach for farmers that want to grow food and fiber.
In the Ag Reserve - an acre goes for around $200/year. These companies are offering 10 and 20 times that. Now we hear companies are offering flat rate bonuses on top of $10,000. The diverse land seekers looking for land through our Land Link program are not offering a bonus to lease land to grow local food. Established Farmers in the Ag Reserve are already loosing leases to solar developments.
One day remains to participate in a long shot referendum effort to get this bill in front of the voters. Click here to learn more and take part.
