A Maryland county has issued an eight-month moratorium on the approval of solar parks to allow for a study of their potential impact on agricultural areas and a review of code.
News outlets report Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh announced the immediate temporary ban Sunday, on the recommendation of Anne Arundel Agriculture, Agritourism and Farming Commission.
County spokesman Owen McEvoy says industrial solar energy operations in areas zoned as "rural-agricultural" were approved years ago without proper consideration of potential impacts.
The executive director of solar industry advocacy group MDV-SEIA, David Murray, says the decision indicates the state is willing to lose economic development and clean energy. He says five solar park projects have been proposed in the county.
The moratorium does not affect solar panels for homes or businesses.
