Ryan Hardesty

The hearing concerned the application of Halo LLC for a certificate of plating facility in Cecil County, Maryland. Key discussions focused on the admissibility of applicant exhibits, including environmental review documents, direct testimony, public comment hearing certifications, and decommissioning plans. The proceedings addressed the procedural requirements for decommissioning plans, the role of local jurisdictions versus the commission, and the potential impact of site plan changes on the decommissioning cost estimates. Subscription coordination for community solar projects and financial security requirements under county ordinances were also examined.

The hearing focused on the application of Halo Betterton LLC for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 5-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility in the town of Betterton, Kent County, Maryland. Key discussions included an overview of the proposed project, site details, and the potential impact on future town development, public safety, and infrastructure. Concerns were raised by town officials regarding the site's importance as a gateway and potential residential development area, as well as the loss of a designated emergency helicopter landing site.

The evidentiary hearing addressed an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 300 megawatt solar photovoltaic generating facility. Key discussion topics included the entry of various exhibits into the evidentiary record, status updates on site plans, decommissioning plans, and the status of negotiations for a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with the county. The parties also discussed technical and environmental review documents, public notice compliance, and adjustments to project parameters such as buffering and interconnection equipment locations.

The public utility law judge conducted a pre-hearing conference to establish a procedural schedule and consider petitions for intervention regarding an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a 5-megawatt solar photovoltaic generating facility. Key topics included identifying participants for the record, marking an applicant certificate of compliance as an exhibit, establishing deadlines for direct testimony, decommissioning plans, updated site plans, and recommended license conditions, and scheduling both virtual and in-person public hearings. The conference also addressed standard discovery guidelines for data requests and confirmed that the matter is currently uncontested.

The prehearing conference concerned the application of Solar Star Dorothy Avenue LLC for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 5 megawatt solar photovoltaic generating facility in Harford County. The discussion focused on establishing an agreed-upon schedule for direct testimony submissions, public comment hearings, and evidentiary hearings. Additionally, the parties established standard discovery guidelines and turnaround times for data responses.