What is the street address of the Naval Academy Dairy Farm?
106 Dairy Lane, Gambrills MD 21054
Will nearby residents and other concerned parties have the opportunity for public input on any plans at the Dairy Farm?
Yes. If NSA Annapolis identifies a viable renewable energy action at the Dairy Farm, we will work closely with key stakeholders including local residents, to ensure public input is heard and considered.
What kind of NEPA actions will this project require?
At this time, NSA Annapolis is beginning the process of evaluating renewable energy generation capability at the Dairy Farm. If the Department of the Navy's requirements prompt a proposed change in the current use of the property, that proposed action will undergo a careful review in compliance with all applicable laws, including 10 U.S. Code §8476 and the National Environmental Policy Act.
Can you provide the KMZ or KML file for the Dairy Farm?
Maryland Federal Lands property data is available for download in various formats on Maryland.gov. Click here to be directed to the locations and layers available for the USNA Dairy Farm property: Maryland Federal Lands - Federal Lands | Maryland Federal Lands - Federal Lands | Maryland's GIS Data Catalog
We received numerous questions regarding the effects of the proposed action on safety and the environment and human health, including biological resources, noise, hazardous materials, water resources, and cultural resources.
Safety is a paramount consideration and one that will remain top of mind throughout the process. At this stage of the RFP process, we do not have enough information to be able to assess the environmental impacts of the proposal. However, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal agencies are required to assess the environmental effects of proposed major Federal actions prior to making decisions. Pursuant to NEPA, the Navy will complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) to examine multiple renewal energy alternatives. including a No Action alternative. The EA will assess the potential impacts to multiple environmental resources, to include (but not limited to):
Assessment of impacts will involve consultation with applicable federal and state authorities, to include (but not limited to) Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Historical Trust, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The EA process will also include the opportunity for the public to review and provide comments to the document, both early on in the scoping process and later on during preparation of the EA.
Once the NEPA process is complete, if the Government makes a decision to move forward with the proposal, the selected developer will have to comply with all applicable Federal and State regulations for site development and operations.
How will any future plans for the Dairy Farm affect current operations?
NSA Annapolis is pursuing this RFP with the support of Anne Arundel County. Current tenants have access to the site under the current Anne Arundel County lease. As stated in the RFP, the Navy is encouraging developers to work with local organizations, non-profits, or other entities to provide a holistic approach for the entire Dairy Farm premise.
What percentage of the farm will be converted to solar panels and how much will remain open farmland? Will the entire property be devoted to energy use? Will there be any recreational use permitted if the property along with agrivoltaic use? Please specify particular uses.
We are not prescribing the specific breakdown of the development across the property in the RFP. We are seeking proposals for projects for clean energy generation and, importantly, enrichment of the local community. This includes preserving the rural and agricultural character of the land, as required by federal law.
What input will neighbors have since this will dramatically change the landscape? Is there somewhere for neighbors to make Comments?
We are interested in what “community benefit” means to neighbors and local community members. We invite you to share your ideas and thoughts directly with us, tonight and after. We’ll have QR codes you can scan so that you can directly submit your input to us. Further, as the project proceeds, the environmental assessment (EA) process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will also include the opportunity for the public to review and provide comments, both early on in the scoping process; and later on during preparation of the EA.
What are the timelines of the current leases on the property?
The Anne Arundel County lease expires January 31, 2038. The County has an existing sublease with Sunrise Farm, which expires on 12/31/24; and two pending subleases, both with proposed expiration dates of July 31, 2026. The two pending sublease tenants are De Novo Farm and MD Corn Maze.
What will the fence around the site look like? Will the farm be enclosed with fencing, if so then what areas and what kind of fencing?
We received several questions about what the barrier or fence around the project site would look like; as well as requests for more detail on planned infrastructure improvements. We are still soliciting proposals to the RFP, so at this stage in the process, specific infrastructure improvements, including fencing, roads, buildings, and new utilities, are unknown.
Will the project award before or after January 20, 2025? / How long will construction take?
We are at the very beginning of the RFP process. We anticipate that we will only be through the first phase of the RFP down-selection process in January of 2025. The phase 2 selection process will occur later in calendar year 2025. A project award would then follow once the Environmental Assessment is complete, but at this stage, it is too premature to gauge when a project would be awarded or the timeline for construction.
Why is the Navy not building this solar panel farm on the Naval Academy golf course and surrounding support area, which is adjacent to the Naval Academy? What other location can be considered for the solar farm?
We are still in the proposal solicitation phase. Part of the environmental assessment will require that we look at alternative locations.
What will happen to their leases/livelihoods of tenants once renewable energy generation efforts come in? Is that up to the future developer?
These entities operate under the current Navy lease with Anne Arundel County. The RFP encourages developers to work with local organizations, non‐profits, or other entities to provide a holistic approach for the entire Dairy Farm premise.
Will there be any recreational use permitted on the property along with agrivoltaic use?
The RFP encompasses the entirety of the 857-acre Dairy Farm, offering a canvas for renewable energy generation. This includes energy generation but also the integration of agrivoltaics with local crop cultivation, farming ventures, preservation of the historic district, and the potential for use by local organizations or non-profits. The Navy’s priority lies in maximizing energy production while preserving the rural and agricultural character of the land and ensuring benefits for the local community.
What efforts has the Navy made in talking to the current tenants on the property about potential renewable energy generation efforts?
We are pursuing this RFP with the support of Anne Arundel County, and we are relying on the county to communicate with each of their tenants due to the terms of the Navy’s current lease with Anne Arundel County.
Will there be any recreational use permitted on the property?
We have not yet selected a specific proposal so are not able to answer this question tonight. But that is an example of a type of community benefit that we’re interested in learning more about the community’s interest.
Can we request that some of the original Master Plan be included (e.g., move the Corn Maze onto the farm itself and put in a Native Plant garden in the current Corn Maze acreage; add Native Plant gardens back in; add the sledding hill for children back into the Plan)?
We welcome your input on what community benefit could look like through the Naval Academy Dairy Farm Renewable Energy Initiative. Please share your thoughts on recreational uses or other community benefits during the poster session this evening or via written comment.
