There are many things landowners need to take into consideration when approached by an energy company interested in leasing land for renewable projects. It is highly recommended that any person considering leasing land to an energy company contact a lawyer to assist in protecting the landowner's interests.
See this January 2025 notice from the Commissioners regarding considerations for landowners interested in leasing for solar:
- Document Notice for landowners with recommended considerations for solar leasing (137.91 KB)
Content from landowner meetings held in Garrett County:
January 23, 2023 Landowners & Solar Learning Workshop (includes presentations, recording)
Land Leasing for Renewable Energy Projects Workshop held in 2016
Leasing resources:
- Document Co-Location of Solar and Agriculture: Benefits and Tradeoffs of Low-Impact Solar Development (6.9 MB) (pdf file presentation from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
- Document Guide to Land Leases for Solar (2.6 MB) (pdf file - from the Solar Energy Industries Assn.)
Other Resources for landowners:
- Farmers' Legal Action Group
- GreenBiz article: Solar Farms Could Make Fertile Habitats for Bees and Butterflies
- North Carolina State Extension Solar Leasing Publications
- Wind Leasing Handbook from Oklahoma State University
- Solar Land Lease Issues
- Leasing Municipal or Private Property for Solar - Key Steps, Considerations
Renewable Energy Articles at the Maryland Risk Management Education Blog
Companies known to be seeking potential land in Garrett County for renewable energy projects:
(contact Cheryl DeBerry to be put on this list 301-334-6968 cdeberry (at sign) garrettcounty.org
- Cloudbreak Energy
- Contact: Eleanor Zwart, Solar Project Origination Analyst
- Phone: (970) 425-3132
- Email: eleanor@cloudbreakenergy.com
- Citrine Power
- Contact: Cela Sinay-Bernie, Managing Parner
- Phone: 203.557.5554 | 917.345.8371
- Email: cela@citrinepower.com
- Clean Footprint
- Contact: Wes Morrison, Solar Project Developer
- Phone: 321-613-4424
- Email: wes.morrison@clean-footprint.com
- Davis Hill Development
- Contact: Chad Southerland, Solar Project Developer
- Phone: (254) 760-8955 or (615) 431-3695
- Email: chad@dhdsolar.com
- New Leaf Energy
- Contact: Jessie Robinson, Senior Project Developer
- Phone: 804-767-3770
- Email: jrobinson@newleafenergy.com
- Sun Edison
- Contact: Abraham Weiner, Business Development Analyst PJM
- Phone: 301-538-2364
- Email: aweiner@sunedison.com
- Turning Point Energy
- Landowner Contact:
- Tom Kirk, VP of Real Estate
- tkirk@tpoint-e.com
- 801-949-8658
- Investment/Development Contact:
- Salar Naini
- snaini@tpoint-e.com
- 480-330-1245
- Landowner Contact:
