State bill would remove local zoning limitations on renewable energy sources

A Maryland House committee voted Wednesday in favor of a bill that would allow certain renewable energy sources to be built and used on any type of land. Several representatives of Frederick County, as well as county officials, said they are concerned that the bill oversteps counties’ zoning authority and would be expensive for jurisdictions. If passed, House Bill 1407 would prevent all jurisdictions from adopting zoning laws or other regulations that limit or ban the construction and operation of Tier 1 renewable sources under Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS).