County Commissioners work toward opposition to House Bill 1036 (Renewable Energy Certainty Act)

Commissioners post call to action on social media

Posted Thursday, May 29, 2025 9:26 am

Petition Drop-off & Signing Locations

NEW CAROLINE COUNTY LOCATION

Federalsburg Marina Park

Federalsburg, MD

DROP-OFF & PETITION SIGNING LOCATION

Petition signatures will be collected:

Thursday, May 29 | 10AM–12 Noon

PETITION DROP-OFF & SIGNING LOCATIONS

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

114 S. Washington St., Suite 101, Easton, MD

Open Today, Thursday, & Friday 9AM–5PM(COB)

Accepting petitions & open for petition signing

Millington Hardware

403 Cypress Street, Millington, MD

DROP-OFF LOCATION ONLY

Please check hours of operation before visiting

Images Spa and Salon

11433 Still Pond Rd., Worton, MD

DROP-OFF LOCATION ONLY

Please check hours of operation before visiting

Cross Street Realtors

201 S. Cross Street, Chestertown, MD

DROP-OFF DURING OFFICE HOURS

Petition signatures will be collected:

Saturday, May 31 | 9AM–12 N

The Mill of Kingstown

7121 Church Hill Rd., Chestertown, MD

Petition signatures will be collected:

Saturday, May 31 | 9AM–12 N.

Centreville Farmers Market

Lawyers Row, Centreville, MD

Petition signatures will be collected:

Sunday, June 1 | 9AM–1PM

Mailing Petitions?

If you're in a county without a drop-off site, you can still mail your petition—but time is short! We recommend using FedEx or overnight shipping to ensure timely delivery.

Mail to:

KCPA

503 Washington Ave #256

Chestertown, MD 21651

REMINDER: All signed petitions must be in no later than June 1 to count

The Caroline County Commissioners remain steadfast in opposing House Bill 1036, which Governor Wes Moore signed into law last week. The Commissioners are providing information to the community on their steps to "push back against solar sprawl," including encouraging citizens to sign a petition to bring the legislation found in HB1036 to referendum.

Below is the Caroline County Government Facebook post with information on steps the county government is taking and on the logistics and instructions for signing the petition.

Additional information will be updated to this story and shared on Caroline Review social media.

Although Governor Wes Moore signed House Bill 1036 (Renewable Energy Certainty Act) into law last week, the Caroline County Commissioners remain fully committed to opposing this deeply flawed legislation. Our fight is not over—and we are using every tool at our disposal to protect Caroline County’s farmland, zoning authority, and rural way of life.

Caroline County has been one of the acknowledged leaders in the statewide effort to push back against solar sprawl. We were the first county in Maryland to adopt a commercial solar cap and to enact a moratorium on large-scale battery energy storage systems—proactive measures designed to preserve agricultural land and ensure responsible planning.

Here are the steps we’ve taken to lead this effort:

•Passed a countywide cap on commercial solar development to prevent overuse of farmland.

•Implemented a moratorium on battery energy storage systems (BESS) to address safety and land-use concerns.

•Testified in opposition to HB 1036 and similar legislation that strips local zoning authority.

•Pursued litigation against solar developers that violate county zoning ordinances.

•Partnered with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) to advocate for local control.

•Issued formal guidance to local farmers, which has been shared and adopted by other counties across the state.

•Maintained strict zoning protections for land under preservation easements and in TDR receiving areas.

Though the bill has been signed, Maryland residents still have a voice. A petition drive led by Jay Falstad is now underway to bring this legislation to referendum. If 25,000 valid signatures are collected by Monday, June 2, supporters will have the remainder of the month to gather an additional 35,000 signatures. If successful, the issue will appear on the 2026 ballot, giving voters—not state politicians—the final say.

We encourage the Farmers Alliance and all residents who share our concern to get involved. To obtain a petition or contact Jay Falstad directly, https://www.farmersallianceruralmaryland.org/

Local officials across Maryland continue to express serious concerns about the long-term consequences this legislation poses for farmland preservation and community self-determination. Requests for comment from Governor Moore’s office remain unanswered.

Caroline County will remain at the forefront of this fight—for our land, our future, and our right to make decisions at the local level.

Sincerely,

Travis, Larry and Frank

County Commissioners work toward opposition to House Bill 1036 (Renewable Energy Certainty Act)

Commissioners post call to action on social media

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