Allegany County, MD — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

Allegany County: no solar-specific setback ordinance. STATE STANDARD (HB1036/SB931, eff. July 1 2025) for ≥1 MW: ≤100 ft from property lines; ≤150 ft from residential dwelling. MD PSC CPCN projects (≥2 MW): PSC conditions govern setbacks.

No Allegany County solar ordinance. ≥2 MW: MD PSC CPCN. ≥1 MW: HB1036 preempts county prohibition. General zoning/building permit for <1 MW.

Mixed — economic development interest; traditional energy identity; some solar openness as economic diversification

Appalachian Maryland; coal and manufacturing heritage; Cumberland city; economic distress creates solar openness; limited flat agricultural land; no ordinance

Worsening

Local county zoning permit: conditional use or special exception at county level; no uniform statewide solar permitting standard. PPRP (Power Plant Research Program, MD DNR): environmental review for generating facilities ≥70 MW; PSC CPCN required for projects ≥70 MW. Projects <70 MW: county-level permitting only. No statewide preemption of local solar ordinances. Net metering: systems up to 2 MW (residential up to 2× annual load). All MD in PJM territory. Maryland has the largest solar carve-out in the U.S. at 14.5% by 2028 (MD Code, PUC §7-703).

Maryland Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS): 50% by 2030; solar carve-out 14.5% by 2028 — drives strong SREC demand. Maryland SREC market: PSC-administered; ~$50-80/SREC 2023-2024 for Tier 1 Maryland SRECs. Maryland Solar Access Program (Brighter Tomorrow Act 2024): $750/kW up to $7,500 for income-qualifying residential customers. Maryland Community Solar: community solar program active statewide. Maryland PSC: approval required for utility-owned solar; IPP projects via county/local process. Utility: BGE (Eversource) serves Baltimore metro; Pepco serves Montgomery/PG County; Delmarva Power serves Eastern Shore; SMECO serves Southern MD; Potomac Edison (FirstEnergy) serves western MD.

Jade Meadow Solar (Point Reyes Energy Partners) | 19.84 MW | Allegany County | CPCN granted — PSC Case No. 9643 (pscmaryland.com docket) Jade Meadow III LLC | 300 MW | Allegany + Garrett Counties | CPCN granted — PSC Case No. 9769 Dry Ridge Solar 1 | 5 MW | Allegany County | Application WITHDRAWN Aug 1 2024 — PSC Case No. 9731 Star Solar Allegany South | 4.95 MW | Allegany County | PSC Case No. 9805 (active) | LSE Ino LLC | 5 MW | Allegany County | PSC Case No. 9856 (active)

Dry Ridge Solar 1 (5 MW) — application withdrawn Aug 1 2024 (PSC Case No. 9731).