Commissioners Approve 6-Month Moratorium on Community Solar

Westminster, MD, Thursday, March 9, 2023 – Today in Open Session, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the proposed amendment to Chapter 113, Community Solar, which implements a six (6) month moratorium on Community Solar.

Any community solar projects currently in the process and affected by this decision will receive a letter advising them of the moratorium. Specifically, affected projects would involve processing, review, permitting, and construction of community solar energy generating systems in the agricultural zone.

The board will meet with the Department of Land and Resource Management staff during Open Session on Thursday, March 16, 2023 to discuss next steps and give staff direction for future actions.

In January, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners (BOC) voted to move the proposed ordinance establishing a six month moratorium on the review and processing of applications and permitting of community solar facilities in the county’s Agricultural Zone to a public hearing. The public hearing was held Thursday, February 23, 2023 and the record remained open to public comment for 10 days. The commissioners reviewed all comments which led to the discussion and vote today.

Open session meetings are available for viewing on the county meeting portal and the county YouTube channel. In addition, all meetings will be replayed on Comcast Channel 24.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chris Winebrenner

410-386-2043