CENTREVILLE — The Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission approved a concept plan for a Millington solar array that seeks sheep as a lawn mowing service during their May 9 meeting.
Econox Renewables, Inc. is proposing the construction of a two-megawatt solar array facility on a 10.06-acre lease area within a 121.11-acre parcel in the agricultural zoning district.
The property is currently being used for agriculture and solar arrays are conditional use within the agricultural zoning district, according to Steven Johnson, senior planner.
The project is located in the northern portion of the county just southwest of Millington.
According to Director of Engineering Steve Kerr, Econox Renewables, Inc. is developing the site for the Maryland Community Solar program, in which power generated from the proposed project will be available within the Delmarva area.
Sheep will be put to work grazing site property vegetation, according to Kerr.
United Agrivoltaics, a firm that specializes in sheep for solar array vegetation maintenance, has been hired to manage the flock, he said.
The project’s two megawatt system will consist of 4,992 modules and 33 inverters. All wiring associated with the array will be below grade to the point of interconnection, Johnson said.
The solar panels have a maximum height of 12 feet six inches and all other equipment on site will be less than seven foot seven inches, he said.
The Department of Public Works approved all stormwater management including disconnection sheet flow and vegetation provided throughout the site.
No topsoil will be removed from the site.
The required 50-foot landscape buffer was provided between two areas of existing woodlands. This buffer includes canopy trees, understory trees, Evergreen shrubs and pollinator friendly herbaceous layers.
The planning commission deemed the concept plan consistent with county zoning and subdivision regulations, as well as the county comprehensive plan, and the utility scale solar array district.
Following the concept plan approval, Econox Renewables, Inc. will return for the proposed project’s major site plan at a later date.
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