COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Researchers from the University of Maryland and Cornell University are organizing a focus group meeting with landowners from Maryland to gather information on their views and actions related to large-scale solar leases on farmland. Any landowner that has signed a solar lease, considered or declined a solar lease is invited to participate in a 1.5-hour virtual meeting with other landowners around the state. The information we gather will help us develop new resources and tools to support landowners and communities in their efforts to adapt to changing land uses. Participation is voluntary and confidential, but it is very important to us to gather landowner opinions about the benefits or challenges of leases for large-scale solar installations around the state. Any landowner that participates in a focus group discussion will receive a $15 VISA gift card in appreciation of their time after the meeting.

If you are a landowner interested in participating, please visit this website to let us know your availability: https://go.umd.edu/solar-focus-groups

We will also be holding focus group meetings this spring with municipal officials and attorneys.

For more information, contact Paul Goeringer (lgoering@umd.edu) or Elizabeth Thilmany (thilmany@umd.edu).

–University of Maryland