Worcester County, MD — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

State floor per HB1036/SB931 (eff. Jul 1 2025): ≤100 ft from property lines; ≤150 ft from non-participating residences. No county-specific setbacks above state floor.

County Board of Appeals/Board of Commissioners: Special Exception or Conditional Use Permit in applicable zoning district.

Mixed — tourism identity vs. agricultural revenue; western county more receptive

Ocean City tourism county; coastal tourism identity creates visual impact concerns for inland sites; flat terrain favorable for solar in western portions; developing regulatory framework

Stable

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.

TPE MD WO73 LLC | 5 MW | Worcester County | CPCN GRANTED (Order No. 92192: February 13 2026) — PSC Case No. 9772 Queponco Road Solar 1 | 5 MW | Worcester County | Application WITHDRAWN January 8 2026 — PSC Case No. 9807

Queponco Road Solar 1 (5 MW) — application withdrawn Jan 8 2026 (PSC Case No. 9807).