EAST NEW MARKET, Md. - A landfill today, a solar panel farm tomorrow. Six acres of the Dorchester County Landfill will become a solar energy farm.
County resident Robin Herman said a solar panel farm is a good investment.
"I think saving anyway you can is good, I don't think it's a substantial amount of money over that amount of years but you have to start somewhere, it's a start," Herman said.
Over the next 20 years, county officials are projecting to save around $500,000 on electricity costs.
Kenyon Energy of Jacksonville, Fla., is investing $4 million to build the solar farm. The only obligation to the county is to allow Kenyon Energy to use the land for free over the next 20 years.
Danny Doughty is a business owner in Dorchester County.
"Every year there is something coming that is cutting edge because there is so much effort being put into it," Doughty said. "To put in something that is good now, we might say, 'Gosh, we should have waited.'"
County resident Mary Hodgson said county officials should put their time and energy into something more important.
"There are other things to spend it on than solar panels," Hodgson said. "I can see things around town that need more work than solar panels."
The solar panel farm should be ready by the end of the year.
