A proposal to build Worcester County’s largest solar project is moving through the state approval process, with construction possibly beginning as early as next year.
New Jersey-based developer Soltage is proposing six solar arrays on an industrially zoned site at the northwest corner of Routes 50 and 113. It would produce up to 18 megawatts of electricity, enough to power thousands of homes. The site includes two parcels totaling about 157 acres, with solar panels planned on roughly 112 acres.
Maryland usually limits community solar projects to 5 megawatts each. However, state rules allow multiple projects to “co-locate” on the same property if the land is zoned industrial.
It means, unlike a single large solar farm, this project is structured as six smaller, independently operated solar arrays, with each connected separately to the grid.
Property owner Adham Abouassali, whose company Berlin Living LLC will continue to own the land, said interest from many solar developers has been growing for years.
“I get probably at least two letters a month just asking to lease the farm,” he said by phone this week. “They got in touch with me maybe three years ago and we’ve been working on it for quite some time.”
Put some sheep in there to keep it at least a bit of agricultural use.
Land raping