Gino Fanelli

gfanelli@delmarvanow.com

A large-scale solar project in Worcester County has inched closer to reality as the concept passed through a public hearing with no outcries.

The Gateway Solar Project proposed by Pennsylvania-based Community Energy Solar is set to be located on a 426-acre site just west of the Route 90 off-ramp at Maryland 376. Consisting of 52,000 photovoltaic panels set on 120 acres of the property, it will add about 12 megawatts to the Maryland grid, a part of Maryland's goal to reach 25 percent renewable power by 2022, with at least 2.5 percent of that generation being solar.

As of 2016, 9.8 percent of the gird was composed of renewable energy, with .7 percent emanating from utility solar. Stage one of the concept plan was presented to the Worcester County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 4.

With no concerning comments from the public, nor the commissioners, the Gateway Solar Project moved forward into becoming a really. Should the project go through the next phases of permitting, construction is expected to begin in summer 2018, with a four- to five-month completion time.

While helping to meet the Maryland renewable standard, the solar project would also offer an economic benefit for the Eastern Shore.

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"These are projects that are much like building subdivisions; they require trades," said Tom Anderson, lead developer for the Gateway Solar Project. "We estimate 70 to 80 percent of our regular workforce will be pulled from the Eastern Shore."

While bringing between 40 and 60 trade jobs to the area for construction on the project — slated to cost anywhere between $24 and $29 million — the solar farm will not require much maintenance and will likely not bring permanent employment.

"These are really low maintenance systems," Anderson said. "Once they're set up, they'll be checked in on once a month, and after the first year, that will change to quarterly."

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The Worcester County Project isn't alone in solar endeavors on the Eastern Shore. To the south in Accomack County, county officials voted to go forward with a 20 megawatt solar farm, constructed by SunTec Solar Solutions. However, an amendment to agricultural zoning laws that followed, which exempted solar and wind farms as acceptable usage for agricultural land, could throw a wrench into future Virginia projects.

Differing from the SunTec project, which merged solar with agriculture by doubling the land use for raising sheep, the Gateway Project will not be used for agricultural means. However, the project has an obligation to preserve the forest that lies around it. Specifically, setting aside 26 acres as a Forest Conservation Easement.

"We've done the research and have shown there is no adverse effects on the surrounding property," said Ed Tudor, director of the Worcester County Department of Reviewing and Permitting.