Worcester County officials opposed to solar panel farms without local county oversight

WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. – An update to Solar Energy in Worcester County. Maryland has been focused on pushing solar within the state.

State officials believe solar energy reduces air pollution, increases energy independence, and job creation. Worcester, Wicomico, and Dorchester have faced pressure from solar companies, due to the high acreage in land.

Worcester County Commissioners are looking at ways to control development locally. Officials are looking at abandoning two megawatt utility-scale farms if they generate enough power after 6 months.

They will also set decommissioning procedures and increase local supervision of solar panel farms.

Worcester Farm Bureau VP, John Bruning, is happy with the move. “It really ensures that these big solar developers will essentially clean up their mess.” He believes there are improvements that can be made.

“One of them is the requirement that 2 megawatt solar requirements. I mean, that is a big solar farm, if they could reduce that even in half.”

Bruning also suggest battery units to be decommissioned after they’re left behind.

A vote will take place at the next Commissioners meeting on October 7th.