We are a small rural community in Hagerstown, Maryland and have been fighting for the last 5 and a half years against a 60 acre solar farm being built in the heart of our beautiful historic village of Cearfoss.
This solar installation is to be built on farm land that is surrounded on all sides by single family homes that all back up to the land in question. The installation would be approximately 30,000 solar panels enclosed by an 8 foot high black vinyl clad chain link fence. The farm on which it is to be built has historic ties to the Civil War as the Battle Of Cunningham was fought here which was part of the Gettysburg Retreat.
We want to preserve the stunning beauty and breathtaking views that we the residents of Cearfoss have enjoyed for so many years. Most of the residents here are senior citizens who built their homes and have lived in them their entire lives. We don't want to see our beautiful village ruined by this industrial monstrosity. We want to preserve the rural character and the historic value as many Civil War enthusiasts visit our village when they are in Hagerstown visiting the Antietam Battlefield.
This solar farm will not benefit our community or even our county. The energy generated will be sold to the state. We have had market analysis done for several homes bordering the land and have been told that we all stand to lose approximately 20% to 25% off the values of our properties, if we would even be able to find buyers who would want them.
So far, since we began our legal fight back in 2015 against this installation, we have paid about $25,000.00 in legal fees and have recently recieved another bill for over $36,000.00. We just got word from the Maryland Public Service Commission that they have granted the certificate of public neccessity to the solar company. This despite testimony from our County Commissioners speaking against it as well as submitting written letters against it, testimony from the Real Estate Professional of the impact on our property values, testimony from the residents that live around the site as to how it would negatively impact their properties and lives, and testimony from our Attorney on the Comprehensive Plan for our county and how the solar farm does not fit within the guidelines.
A group of people who live in other cities/counties about 2 hours away (The MPSC) have decided that this solar farm should be built in our backyards. They have decided this is the best decision, and yet they have never been to our community to see where the solar installation would be built. Sadly, the only people who will benefit from this solar installation are the land owners, (one is an ex-County Commissioner who lives elsewhere in town, where there is no sight, nor threat of a solar farm) and of course, the solar company.
Please understand that we are not against solar as a source of energy. Some of the residents here have them on their homes. But we are all against this industrial installation being built in the center of our community, literally in our backyards. We want to continue our fight by appealing this latest decision. But with about $36,000.00 left to pay currently, we need help with additional funds to continue. We are asking you to consider helping us fight this. Put yourself in our shoes. One day it could come to your backyard. Our case will set precedence for the state of Maryland.
When we began, we had a large number of residents who came together to donate the first retainer fee for our Attorney. Unfortunately, as I mentioned above, most are senior citizens and on fixed incomes. Because of this, we are currently down to only a few families who are shouldering the financial burden to fight this for our entire community. We have been committed for the last 5 and a half years and hate the thought of giving up now. If we give up and allow this to be built in the heart of our village, it will be a loss of 60 acres of prime farmland. When all of our farmland is used up for solar installations, where will our food come from? Once built, most solar installations have a life of about 40 years, so it will be here long after we are gone.
We want to fight this until we win. Will you please help us?
