HB 460

Did not advance

Solar Energy - Construction of Generating Stations in Priority Preservation Areas and Study

Sponsor: Barry Beauchamp (District 38B)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Energy and ClimateStatus: Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Reducing from 5% to 2% the amount of priority preservation area acreage that may be used for the construction of certain solar energy generating stations; and requiring the Maryland Department of the Environment to study the environmental impact of the disposal of solar photovoltaic systems and report its findings to the General Assembly by September 30, 2027.

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Testimony (28)

MGA witness list

FAV 17FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 8UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Middleton, Graysonlobbyist	Delmarva Chicken Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Bean, Carol	Eastern Shore Land Conservancy	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Ziegler, Natalie	Legislative Rural Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	Beauchamp, Barry	MD General Assembly	Written (PDF)
FAV	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hough, Tylerlobbyist	Maryland Farm Bureau	Written (PDF)
FAV	Haddaway-Riccio, Jeannielobbyist	R&R Solutions	Oral
FAV	Snow, Ryanlobbyist	R&R Solutions	Written (PDF)
FAV	Giordano, Julie	Wicomico County	Oral
FAV	Luffman, Bunky	Wicomico County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bereano, Brucelobbyist	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Beauchamp, Delegate Beauchamplegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Griffith, Anna	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McHugh, Dan	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
FAV	Silver, Patricia	Individual	Position only
FAV	Thompson, Lindsaylobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Rager, Duwane	Chaberton Energy	Written (PDF)
UNF	Dutta, Robin	Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Coggeshall, Charlie	Coalition for Community Solar Access	Written (PDF)
UNF	Organization, HoCo Climate Action	HoCo Climate Action	Position only
UNF	Feighner, Liz	Liz Feighner, self	Position only
UNF	Meredith, Leah	Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)	Oral
UNF	Gross, Kenneth	Individual	Position only
UNF	Outten, Megan	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	DeCheubel, Leeza	Rural Maryland Council	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hamidi, Renee	Valleys Planning Council	Written (PDF)
INFO	Pacheco, Vincent	Maryland Department of Energy	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Chaberton EnergyUNF 1

Chesapeake Solar and Storage AssociationUNF 1

Coalition for Community Solar AccessUNF 1

Delmarva Chicken AssociationFAV 1

Eastern Shore Land ConservancyFAV 1

HoCo Climate ActionUNF 1

Legislative Rural CaucusFAV 1

Liz Feighner, selfUNF 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FAV 1

Maryland Department of EnergyINFO 1

Maryland Farm BureauFAV 1

MD General AssemblyFAV 1

R&R SolutionsFAV 2

Rural Maryland CouncilFWA 1

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)UNF 1

Valleys Planning CouncilFWA 1

Wicomico CountyFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMiddleton, GraysonDelmarva Chicken AssociationRegistered for: Delmarva Chicken Association

FAVHough, TylerMaryland Farm BureauRegistered for: Maryland Farm Bureau

FAVHaddaway-Riccio, JeannieR&R SolutionsRegistered for: Araminta USA; Dorchester County, Maryland; For All Seasons; Maryland Farm Bureau; Talbot Watermen's Association; Tetrus Corp.…

FAVSnow, RyanR&R SolutionsRegistered for: Araminta USA; Dorchester County, Maryland; For All Seasons; Maryland Farm Bureau; Talbot Watermen's Association; Tetrus Corp.…

FAVBereano, BruceRegistered for: 5400 Holiday Drive LLC; Anne Arundel County Fair; Aurora Technical Systems; BWI Airport Fire Rescue Local 1742; BWI Airport Professional Firefighters; BWI Taxi Management, Inc.…

FAVThompson, LindsayRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Farmland Trust; CropLife America; Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association; Denali Water Solutions; Horizon Farm Credit…