Removing Barriers to Solar Energy

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

Howard County’s Removing Barriers to Solar program helped demystify solar while also making more solar installation options available to residents and businesses across the county. This program included several key elements. An education and technical assistance effort provided residents with information and resources to help them lower electricity costs by implementing solar at home or by investing in a local community solar project. The county also convened a Solar Task Force of diverse stakeholders to identify barriers and solutions to solar installation as well as to find a balance between the need for clean energy generation and the preservation of local agricultural production. Task Force recommendations triggered a detailed review of solar-related zoning regulations by county staff, which led to passage of a comprehensive Zoning Regulations Amendment that opened more zoning districts to solar development, streamlined the zoning application process for personal use and commercial use solar facilities, and better aligned the policy governing commercial solar facilities on Agricultural Land Preservation Program (ALPP) properties in support of farmland and farmers. The county also began offering more Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements to reduce the tax burden on solar developers, bringing more clean energy, local jobs, and supplemental income to the county.