Baltimore County is considering new landscaping requirements for energy storage facilities near the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. The proposal would add another local standard as counties continue siting large energy projects.
Bill 106-26 would require an energy storage device located adjacent to or within the Critical Area to include a berm with dense landscaping tall enough at planting to screen the building from view.
Baltimore County already requires landscaping buffers when data centers or energy storage facilities adjoin residential property. The bill would add a separate requirement for energy storage facilities near the Critical Area.
The proposal comes as counties across Maryland continue developing local standards for energy projects involving zoning, land use, environmental protections, and community impacts. At the same time, State-level debates over energy siting have raised broader questions about how much local authority counties should retain over these projects.
The County Council introduced the bill on October 5 and discussed it at an October 13 work session. Another work session is scheduled for October 27, with a final vote set for November 2 at 6:00 pm.
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Baltimore County Council Pending Legislation
