Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – More solar power could soon be generated in Montgomery County.
The Montgomery County Council’s considering changing the county’s zoning rules so that property owners with more than 3 acres of land could build community solar arrays.
“Community solar allows, depending on how you do it, allows tenants, allows commercial property owners, allows multi-family dwellings and allows large land owners to have a large array and sell shares to people who want to participate in the green economy and benefit from renewable energy but aren’t people who have an ability to have solar arrays on their house,” bill sponsor Tom Hucker said at a council meeting last month when the zoning amendment was introduced.
Hucker explained some people would like to have solar panels on their homes but can’t because the area is too shady.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed bills into law in 2015 allowing the state to initiate a community shared solar program, but councilors said there are still barriers in Montgomery County because of local zoning laws.
Councilor George Leventhal said the proposed zoning amendment is a constructive step toward combating climate change.
A public hearing on the amendment will be held Tuesday.
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