On February 27, 2024, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko testified before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 685- Program Open Space- Use of Property- Renewable Energy and Storage with amendments. This bill allows counties to use Program Open Space (POS) land to develop solar and wind energy generation.
Program Open Space (POS) is the heartbeat of Maryland's recreation and conservation landscape. Initially enacted in the 1960s, POS is funded via the transfer tax from the sale of real estate, and for the majority of jurisdictions, represents the most significant influx of capital and operating dollars for these purposes. Without POS, or if the scope of POS were to be dramatically expanded, decades of work meant to give Marylanders access to natural areas would likely be put in jeopardy.
From MACo Testimony:
While counties recognize the intent of SB 685 and applaud its underlying recognition of the importance of local decision-making, the breadth of the bill presents a challenge to the foundational premise of POS. In order to strike a balance between both the intent of the sponsor and of POS, counties propose a set of conceptual amendments which aim to open some areas for renewable energy development while placing guardrails around others.
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