Federal action to protect farmland is being praised by Wicomico County officials.
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced they will no longer allow taxpayer dollars to subsidize solar panels on productive farmland.
Wicomico Farm Bureau President Steve Hurley, said the move gives local farmers more freedom. “Putting like 9,000 acres in solar panels just in Wicomico County, when your average farmer is about 10-12 acres each. You do the math.”
THE MOVE
According to Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano, roughly 180,000 acres of high-priority land could be used, with 5% going straight to solar without planning or zoning input.
Tuesday, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in Tennessee that the department will not fund the solar company projects. Rollins emphasizes that those efforts have displaced farmland, increased costs, and excluded the young farmer from affordable land.
Giordano realized the state of Maryland wanted to push for increased solar. Wicomico County is home to more than 83,000 acres of farmland, which represents nearly 40% of its total land area. She calls this move a win.
“This is something we have been working on, with the legislation done at the state, that we were concerned about the amount of solar that could go in our county,” said Giordano. “The state didn’t seem to be listening, so we went to our federal partners.”
THE REALITY
Hurley didn’t mince words, about how farmers have been treated in Maryland. With the push for solar participation, and the deer population running rampant on farmland, Hurley believes the state has specifically abandoned local farmers.
“Yeah, it feels like the state doesn’t want us here,” said Hurley. “It was a death sentence for the agriculture community.”
State officials believe solar is the future. Saying it’s more sustainable, environment friendly, and abundant. Giordano, though, declares her allegiance to county residents. She promised to advocate for the people of her county.
“This is your local government working, and this is what we’re supposed to be doing. There are times when we are scrutinized for being in Annapolis or Washington, D.C., but this is what we’re doing. We are fighting for the people here.”
