Centralized or fragmented? Placing utility-scale solar energy in the eastern United States (Maryland and Pennsylvania)

Abstract

The transition to renewable energy is an unprecedented historical undertaking that requires immense amounts of planning across different scales and from diverse actors. While planning for solar energy development in the western US has been fairly centralized, planning in the eastern US differs among states and even local municipalities. Through document analysis and interviews, this research examines policies in Maryland and Pennsylvania, which share many geographic similarities but have two distinct policy environments. Maryland has a stronger requirement for renewable energy (50% by 2030) and particularly solar energy (14.5% by 2028) than Pennsylvania (8% for renewable energy and .5% for solar energy). The states also have a starkly different planning process for solar energy development. Maryland’s process is highly centralized and coordinated by the Public Service Commission, which balances the interests of climate goals, state agencies, local zoning at the county level, and public participation. Pennsylvania leaves almost all of solar siting to local municipal governments, using social networks and professional organizations to share knowledge about zoning and development. While this potentially gives more power to local communities, it likely does not support transitions to renewable energy and achieving climate goals. On the other hand, Maryland provides an example of a centralized planning process that balances local concerns with state climate and energy priorities. While neither of these states excel in renewable energy development, the differences between these two cases are informative for considering more robust policy mechanisms for energy transitions, which likely will require more regional coordination and planning.