Commissioner Ron Fithian expresses that Kent County government stands with Betterton in opposition to the solar project, PSC Case 9786.
Left, Gordon Feinblatt Attorney Max Cooke representing Halo, and Sean Miller engineer for Kimley & Horn introduce the proposed solar project.
Over 200 fill the Betterton fire house for the latest Public Service Commission Public Hearing with Halo LLC, a solar panel company requesting to build at the gateway to Betterton.
Mark Mank Department of Natural Resources Power Plant Research Program (PPRP) gives reasons why they recommend project approval.
Presiding over the public hearing is Public Utility Law Judge Christine Burke, (standing) with Kristin Case Lawrence the Chief Public Utility Law Judge keeping time and Betterton Mayor Donald Sutton providing oversight.
Lloyd Spivak Staff Counsel at Maryland Public Service Commission explains the solar approval process on their end.
Commissioner John Price expresses that Kent County government stands with Betterton in opposition to the solar project, PSC Case 9786.
Commissioner Ron Fithian expresses that Kent County government stands with Betterton in opposition to the solar project, PSC Case 9786.
Left, Gordon Feinblatt Attorney Max Cooke representing Halo, and Sean Miller engineer for Kimley & Horn introduce the proposed solar project.
Over 200 fill the Betterton fire house for the latest Public Service Commission Public Hearing with Halo LLC, a solar panel company requesting to build at the gateway to Betterton.
Mark Mank Department of Natural Resources Power Plant Research Program (PPRP) gives reasons why they recommend project approval.
Presiding over the public hearing is Public Utility Law Judge Christine Burke, (standing) with Kristin Case Lawrence the Chief Public Utility Law Judge keeping time and Betterton Mayor Donald Sutton providing oversight.
Lloyd Spivak Staff Counsel at Maryland Public Service Commission explains the solar approval process on their end.
Commissioner John Price expresses that Kent County government stands with Betterton in opposition to the solar project, PSC Case 9786.
BETTERTON — In a town of less than 400, more than 200 residents filled the Betterton Volunteer Fire Company for the latest Maryland Public Service Commission hearing on a proposed 30-acre solar project at the gateway to Betterton.
Residents were overwhelmingly opposed to the project and eager to voice their opinions. Each speaker was given three minutes after Public Utility Law Judge Christine Burke announced that the hearing would end at 8:30 p.m.
On May 15, the Maryland Public Service Commission issued a procedural order regarding a stay on Halo Betterton LLC’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 5-megawatt solar photovoltaic generating facility near state Route 292 and Howell Point Road. The stay was reversed and Commission was ordered to resume proceeding with an updated procedural schedule that adheres as closely as possible to the deadlines agreed upon by the parties.
The Town of Betterton opposes the project, saying the property represents the town’s only opportunity for expansion and that industrial solar development does not fit its comprehensive plan for future growth.
Town officials want the area used for mixed-use and residential development, which would help facilitate the cost of a new wastewater treatment facility as the town expands.
The public hearing in Case No. 9786 began at 6:30 p.m.
Burke presided over the hearing, with Chief Public Utility Law Judge Kristin Case Lawrence keeping time.
Gordon Feinblatt attorney Max Cooke represented Halo. Sean Miller, an engineer with Kimley-Horn, also represented the project.
Kimley-Horn has been the engineering firm for several major solar projects proposed in Kent County, including the Morgnec Solar project, TPE MD KE51 in Millington and Halo Betterton.
Miller highlighted the project’s concept plans, including landscape buffers and access points.
“Energy generation will be allocated to solar subscribers who are Delmarva power customers, and subscribers are considered low income households receiving a minimum of 10% discount,” Miller said.
Mark Mank, representing the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Power Plant Research Program, explained why the program recommended approval of the project.
“By state’ law by 2030, 50% of in-state generation will come from noble energy. That’s not all solar, just 14.5% is,” Mank said.
Mank said the program coordinated an independent review of the application’s potential environmental and socioeconomic effects involving several state agencies.
“That review is complete and the secretary of DNR and Maryland Department of the Environment made the recommendation the PSC recommends approval for Betterton solar project which I believe occurred November 2025,” Mank said.
An evidentiary hearing involving the Power Plant Research Program and other parties is scheduled for Aug. 31 in Baltimore.
“When we review these things we file a summary and write a synopsis from hundreds of files,” Mank said.
He recommended reviewing project manager Shawn Seaman’s notes online.
Mank said the review examined biological issues, wildlife, streams, stormwater runoff, critical areas, noise, buffering, decommissioning and greenhouse gas emissions. He said everything was evaluated “extensively.”
Lloyd Spivak, staff counsel for the Maryland Public Service Commission, said that while the Power Plant Research Program carries much of the review workload, commission staff is charged with examining the project’s potential effect on the reliability and safety of the electric grid.
“We found the project would not have a negative effect on the reliability of the grid provided certain conditions are met,” Spivak said.
Kent County Commissioners Ron Fithian and John Price have opposed previous solar projects, including the Morgnec Solar project. The commissioners and the Town of Chestertown opposed that project, but the Maryland Public Service Commission approved the application.
Fithian and Price joined Kent County residents in opposing the Betterton project.
“Approval of this proposal by the PSC will eliminate any possibility of growth that will sustain this beautiful small town and burden local taxpayers,” Price said.
Fithian said that during his time as a county commissioner, he has received state citations recognizing the preservation of the agricultural way of life. He said the project would take that way of life away.
“You are tying the hands of a very small town. You have no other directions the place can grow. To take the main area and use that for a solar field is poor planning,” Fithian said.
More than a dozen residents also spoke in opposition to the project.
David Paltrineri, chairman of the Betterton Planning and Zoning Commission, said the town’s plans for responsible growth are the product of decades of consistent planning.
He said Betterton is following Maryland’s plan for growth by identifying the Howell Point Road area as a primary development opportunity.
Joe Stock, a longtime resident and grant writer for the town, confirmed that development was planned for the area.
Janet Christensen-Lewis, representing the Kent Conservation and Preservation Alliance, referred to Chapter 623, the Utility Transparency and Accountability Act, which requires the benefits of solar power to be considered alongside Betterton’s plans for the property.
Those benefits do not align with Betterton’s plans, Christensen-Lewis said.
Owen Bailey, director of land use and policy for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, said “compact mixed use development generates greater longterm economic value than low intensity land uses.”
Maryann Wasko-Smith, a board member for the Betterton Community Development Corporation, disputed the characterization of Betterton as an assortment of vacant homes, as she said Halo’s plans state.
“We are a vibrant community, with fire company, beach, park, library, place of worship, post office and feature events highlighting a rich maritime legacy,” Wasko-Smith said.
She called on the state of Maryland to deny the project.
Tom Deliberto, a member of the Betterton Planning Commission, said the proposed 30-acre solar field, when compared with the town’s total acreage, is “totally out of line with what it should be.”
“If you take the proportion and compare it to Baltimore County it would cover the metropolitan area of Towson. You are taking a disproportionate share of it for a very small return,” Deliberto said.
Douglas Cregar said the facility could create hazards because of its proximity to the firehouse. He also cited studies indicating that homes next to solar facilities could lose property value.
Paul Falcon, a builder for 40 years, said he examined Halo’s published information and saw potential negative effects from the proposed landscape buffers, installation and height of the panels.
Katherine Klvana raised concerns about the project’s visual effect and the potential for glare based on Halo’s plans. She said the proposed buffers would not eliminate glare from the start.
John Erikson raised concerns about the lack of options during an emergency. He said the installation does not fit in a residential beach community and questioned whether Halo would pay the entire cost of upgrading the transmission and distribution system.
Marianne Riding of Still Pond said Halo’s costs would rise with energy demands. She also said design errors and insufficient maintenance could lead to fires. Those fires, she said, do not have a separate reporting category and are grouped with other categories by the National Fire Protection Association.
Eileen Clements, a Kent County master gardener, questioned whether Halo could create an environmentally stable and aesthetically pleasing buffer zone for the lifespan of the project.
Craig Smith said the facility would be built in a sensitive area about 1,700 feet upstream from a Chesapeake Bay Critical Area buffer. He said the project could cause significant sediment erosion.
George Cassidy, a project manager, said Halo’s five-year decommissioning plan is probably already inadequate. He said the solar development business model relies on projects changing hands and that he does not want Betterton, known as a recreational community, to become lost in an industrial maze.
Tina Graves, representing the firehouse, outlined what she described as the project’s safety hazards.
“The solar field would sit on the town’s only two practical egress roads. It will close off evacuation routes in the town…the entire town,” Graves said.
Graves said many volunteers live outside town, meaning access to the firehouse could be limited or even impossible.
Helen Martin said the project would destroy local ecosystems and disrupt migratory bird patterns.
Elizabeth Watson also testified against the project, calling for Betterton to remain a mixed-use residential community while maintaining its rural identity and heritage.
Betterton resident Eric Fahrman said all his children want to remain in the community, raise families and carry on a family tradition dating back four generations. He said an industrial solar facility would not support that goal and would instead become an eyesore.
James Steele, a Betterton resident for 40 years, said what is a good deal for Halo would be a bad deal for Betterton.
“It interferes with the town’s comprehensive plan which has been consistent,” Steele said.
Wayne Gilchrest spoke about the community’s integrity. He said Betterton has been a fishing and farming community for thousands of years, dating to the Tockwogh tribe.
“We hold that history dear,” Gilchrest said.
Gilchrest said that just as he longed for home after a day of trekking through the woods or being out on the water, the next generation should be able to experience that same joy.
“What we want to do on this 30 acres is to provide young families a home and consider, the alternative to Halo… is confidence in our young people,” Gilchrest said.
Dorcas Coleman Carpenter said she moved back to her childhood home and that the views on the Eastern Shore never cease to amaze her. She said money cannot replace those qualities, but it can destroy them.
An unidentified 19-year-old Betterton resident said growing up in the town shaped who she is and that she savors its sense of community.
“The fields and farm land contains fond memories. I want children to grow up to experience the peaceful surroundings like I did,” she said.
The meeting ended at 8:30 p.m.
When Burke was asked whether she had seen Betterton’s park, beaches, town hall and fields, she had no comment.
Mank also had no comment when asked what factors led the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to recommend approval of the Halo project.
Representatives of Kimley-Horn and Halo’s attorneys did not comment when questioned after the hearing.
An unidentified court reporter said that, of all the solar hearings he had attended, Betterton’s was the largest he had seen in Maryland.
Mayor Don Sutton thanked the community for showing its support.
“It’s encouraging seeing people’s concerns about the project and how it will jeopardize our town,” Sutton said.
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