BEL AIR, MD — A 2 megawatt community solar project has been being proposed along Thomas Run Road in Bel Air, and nearby residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and share concerns about the development during a public meeting next week.
The proposed Arena Otter Solar project would be located at 2128 Thomas Run Road. Unlike traditional rooftop solar installations, community solar projects generate electricity at a central location and allow participating utility customers to subscribe to a portion of the electricity produced.
Under Maryland's Community Solar Program, customers receive credits on their electric bills based on their subscriptions and the electricity generated. Participants do not need to own property or install solar panels on their homes.
Renters, homeowners and businesses can participate, provided their electric accounts are within the same utility service territory as the solar project.
Maryland established a permanent community solar program through legislation approved in 2023, replacing a pilot program that ended Dec. 31, 2024.
The program also includes provisions intended to benefit lower-income households. Under state requirements, qualifying community solar projects must allocate at least 40% of their electricity output to low- and moderate-income subscribers, with certain exceptions.
State regulations also establish consumer protections covering subscription agreements, disclosures and marketing practices.
The Maryland Public Service Commission oversees the program and requires developers to meet applicable state requirements before connecting projects to the electrical grid.
Community solar projects can have a generating capacity of up to 5 megawatts under the state program. Projects exceeding 2 megawatts generally require a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the commission, although additional requirements can apply depending on a project's location and configuration.
The meeting will be held Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at Harford Community College's Chesapeake Conference Center, Room 197, 401 Thomas Run Road in Bel Air.
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