Renewable Energy Task Force
2015 Roster
| Elizabeth Beckley | Briggs Cunningham | Samuel T. Shoge |
| Walter Bowie | David Hill | Edward Taylor |
| Janet Christensen-Lewis | Robert Ingersoll | Ellyn Vail |
| William Cooper | Kim Kohl | Terry Willis |
Charge
CHARGE 2015
Following the 2008 adoption of the Empower Maryland Act and the 2009 state initiative known as “Generating Clean Horizons,” the County Commissioners of Kent created and appointed members to the Renewable Energy Task Force (RETF) in March 2010. The former charge assigned to the RETF included the following:
- Objectively evaluate the application of each type of renewable energy technology at the residential, commercial, and utility scale for their benefits to the county and potential effects on the community and the environment
- Identify infrastructure requirements including those needed for transmission and the conversion from energy to electricity
- Advise the County Commissioners on the applicability of each type of technology to Kent County and recommend potential alternative energy technology that may be applicable to reduce county building or other structures energy use
- Propose appropriate policy changes and ordinance amendments
- Review current technology incentives
The RETF presented findings in the form of a White Paper to the County Commissioners in November 2010. The task force members recognized the County’s vital resources in need of preservation noted in the Comprehensive Plan ranging from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries to the agricultural landscapes to the historic sites in the County. In addition, the RETF understood that the needs of its residents must also be considered. As it discussed each renewable energy system’s pros and cons, the task force looked to the economic sustainability for the County and its residents as the balancing point with preservation.
Generally, the task force supported the use of small scale (residential) systems and focused large scale (commercial industrial) systems with significant restrictions in appropriate commercial or industrial zoning districts. Where technology is fast moving or evolving, the task force recommended revisiting these technologies for appropriateness and compatibility. As a result, renewable energy systems meant for production of energy for onsite use was designated “small scale” and systems meant to produce energy for offsite use was designated “utility scale”.
The text amendments proposed by the RETF and ultimately adopted by the County Commissioners in August 2011 added both permitted use and special exception provisions for small scale wind energy systems and small scale solar systems. Utility scale solar system provisions were adopted in only commercial and industrial areas in the County (Crossroads Commercial, Commercial, Commercial Critical Area, Employment Center, and Industrial Districts).
As anticipated by the RETF in the 2010 White Paper and recently noted by the County Commissioners of Kent, it would now seem appropriate to reconvene the Task Force under an updated charge in 2015 as follows:
- Revisit the 2010 studies and recommendations with special attention paid to utility scale systems,
- Revisit renewable energy industry advancements,
- Ensure appropriateness and compatibility of existing Ordinance provisions in light of industry advancements, and
- Propose appropriate policy changes and ordinance amendments, if necessary.
Agenda
Kent County Renewable Energy Task Force
R. Clayton Mitchell, Jr. Government Center
400 High Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
29 April 2016 9 a.m.
Welcome
15 April 2016 meeting summary
Discussion of Utility Scale Wind Energy Systems
Next steps: Staff will draft all proposed amendments for Agricultural Advisory Commission and Planning Commission recommendation and County Commissioner decision.
2010 RETF Information
2010 Roster
| Elizabeth Beckley | Ray Fenner | Edward Taylor |
| Walter Bowie | David Hill | Ellyn Vail |
| William Cooper | Robert Ingersoll | Terry Willis |
| Briggs Cunningham | Jay Lancaster |
Link to 2010 White Paper
2010 Charge
In 2008, Maryland adopted the Empower Maryland Act, which aims to reduce energy consumption 15% by 2015 and more than doubled Maryland’s renewable portfolio standard to require that utilities purchase 20% of their power from clean energy sources by 2022. In 2009, Maryland established a new initiative to spur large-scale, commercial renewable energy projects in the state. Called “Generating Clean Horizons”, Maryland is teaming up with county, university, and municipal partners to use their combined market power to jumpstart new commercial renewable energy projects. Toward this end, Maryland issued a Request for Proposals on May 21, 2009 offering long-term power purchase agreements to clean energy developers that can place renewable power on the grid in Maryland by 2014.
These statewide initiatives along with additional federal incentives create an opportunity for widespread development and use of alternative energy sources at the residential, commercial, and utility scale levels. While these incentives create great opportunities, renewable energy installation, particularly at the utility scale, raises new siting and land use issues. The development of both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy presents specific challenges to the communities involved, including permitting and zoning of facilities and support industries, provision of appropriate infrastructure, and worker housing.
Therefore, in order for Kent County to address the opportunities and challenges presented by the development and use of clean renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, methane and biomass, the County Commissioners of Kent have created a Renewable Energy Task Force to study the potential uses of renewable energy in the county and recommend appropriate policies and ordinance amendments. Specifically, the Task Force is charged with the following:
- Objectively evaluate the application of each type of renewable energy technology at the residential, commercial, and utility scale for their benefits to the county and potential affects on the community and the environment
- Identify infrastructure requirements including those needed for transmission and the conversion from energy to electricity
- Advise the County Commissioners on the applicability of each type of technology to Kent County and recommend potential alternative energy technology that may be applicable to reduce county building or other structures energy use
- Propose appropriate policy changes and ordinance amendments
- Review current technology incentives
03/09/2010