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Md. Regulators Consider Solar Farm On Prison Land

 

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland's Public Service Commission is considering plans for what developers say would be the state's largest solar farm on state prison land near Hagerstown.

 

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning in Baltimore on the project proposed by Easton-based Maryland Solar LLC.

 

The developers are seeking certification for a 20-megawatt solar-panel array solar on 250 acres near the medium-security Maryland Correctional Institution.

 

The Board of Public Works agreed last month to lease the land to the company.

 

Supporters say it would create about 125 construction jobs and boost the state's efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

 

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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