The developer Soltage plans to build on this 157-acre site located at the intersection of Route 50 and 113 in Berlin. The company submitted this image in its application to the Maryland Public Service Commission.
The developer Soltage plans to build on this 157-acre site located at the intersection of Route 50 and 113 in Berlin. The company submitted this image in its application to the Maryland Public Service Commission.
(April 10, 2026) 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.”
In October, the developer filed its application with the state, seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which is required for all energy generation projects in Maryland.
If approved, the project would break ground by 2027 following additional permitting and site plan approvals, according to Zac Meyer, a project manager with Soltage.
He estimates the project could serve between 5,000 and 7,000 households that subscribe to community solar programs through Delmarva Power, particularly among moderate- and low-income families.
“Big picture, it’s providing energy at a time when energy demand is rising quickly,” Meyer said.
Meyer also said construction period, estimated at 9 to 18 months, would generate more than 100 jobs, along with long-term property tax revenue for the town. Soltage estimates lifetime tax revenue for the project could total about $8 million.
While the site is now being used for farming, Meyer said its industrial zoning makes it well-suited for solar, which he described as a relatively low-impact use compared to potential industrial uses like manufacturing or heavy industry.
Plans call for a vegetative buffer of more than 1,200 trees, agricultural-style fencing, and provisions to preserve topsoil. The developer has also committed to a decommissioning plan, backed by a bond, to return the land to its pre-development condition after the solar farm’s estimated 30-year lifespan.
The company agreed to other stipulations sought by Berlin officials, including making good-faith efforts to hire local workers and avoid impacts to nearby Bunting’s airfield. The town also could purchase renewable energy credits from the project.
Soltage is also exploring educational programming related to solar power for local schoolchildren, Meyer added.
Moving forward, state and local agencies will need to grant stormwater and final site plan approvals. Meyer said Soltage hopes to complete permitting later this year, with construction to follow.
While the project falls under the jurisdiction of the Town of Berlin, when completed it would be the largest solar installation in Worcester County. The county’s largest solar farm in operation generates 7.6 megawatts and is located off Old Ocean City Road, where Route 90 branches off from Route 50.
Maryland has set aggressive targets for clean energy, including getting half its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with at least 14.5% coming from solar.
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