Solar Power — And Squirrels!

Peter Heck & Jane Jewell • April 27, 2021

Are you thinking about going solar? Great! But first do your research and get a good contract from a reputable company.

This story is the first in a series on solar energy — the pros and cons, the costs, the companies who provide it on the Eastern Shore, and the experiences of local people in going solar.

Solar energy is a mature technology that promises to supply a significant fraction of our energy needs in the future — and without adding to the climate crisis that is driven by fossil fuels. Not only does a home solar array provide clean energy, it can — if done right — offer real savings on your electric bill. That’s something every homeowner can appreciate.

But while there are benefits to going solar, there’s more to the process than you may realize at first. Currently, there are four main ways to go solar — owning, leasing, sharing, or going solar “virtually.” To determine which is best for you, you need to figure whether you want to own your own solar panels, or to lease your roof space to a company that sells the power to a utility company and passes on some of the savings to you. Or do you want to join other homeowners in a consortium where each member owns a share in a solar array somewhere else in the area? Or are you happy just asking your utility company to supply you power generated exclusively by environmentally responsible means such as solar and wind?

There are pluses and minuses to all these strategies, and you can’t be sure what’s right for you without doing considerable research. Sometimes, even the most careful research may not spot all the wrinkles the world might throw at you. For example, have you thought about squirrels?

Common Sense interviewed homeowners in the Chestertown area who have solar panels installed in their homes. Two of them reported squirrel damage to their homes as a result of the installation. One owner said that about three years ago he needed to pay more than $1,000 to repair a hole in his roof under one of the solar panels. The original installation company, per the contract, removed the panels and reinstalled them after the repair — all free of charge. Then — a little too late — the solar company installed “pest abatement.” Definitely a case of “closing the barn door after the horse is gone.”


The homeowner described the abatement as an industrial-strength chicken wire and barbed wire placed around the edges of the panels to keep squirrels, birds, or other critters out. Solar panels are installed a few inches above the roof. He learned that squirrels are attracted to this warm space under the panels, and once there, they can dig into the roof to make a comfy den for themselves. Unfortunately, that may allow water to leak in, with all the problems that brings. This homeowner discovered the leak inside an interior wall under the damaged part of the roof — fortunately before any serious structural damage was done. Squirrels also may chew on wires, causing electrical outages and possibly even fires.

 

Another Eastern Shore homeowner — in a still ongoing situation — has more damage to his roof from squirrels. As of mid-April, 2021, his roof has been leaking for almost two months. The first symptom was water in his basement in an area that had never flooded before. He thought it was ground seepage, a common problem in basements here on the Eastern Shore with our high ground-water level. He first called a company that waterproofs basements and the problem seemed to be fixed. But shortly after, water started appearing in the basement again, and a damp spot appeared in the ceiling of a room below the solar array. The wife heard an animal scrambling about in the small attic crawl space above. Yep, it was another squirrel hole under a solar panel.

 

The homeowner at first was unable to get the solar company on the phone, waiting on hold for over an hour. However, the company replied to an email saying that the maintenance department had been notified and would call to set up an appointment “within a window of the next six months.” Two weeks went by with no phone call, though the homeowners did receive a text advising them to check their documents and asking how would they like to arrange to pay for the $499 fee for the removal and re-installation of the solar panels. Since the solar panels are not his property, he’s not supposed to remove them. Uninstalling then re-installing solar panels requires expertise and experience. He responded to the text but received no answer for over two more weeks. In the meantime, his nephew went up onto the roof to put chicken wire around the panels and then wiggled into the attic crawl space — accessed through a closet — to place buckets under the leaks.

 

At that point, the homeowner was afraid his only recourse would be to call in a lawyer. Finally he got through on the phone to a company representative who agreed that roof repairs could not wait six months. He now has an appointment for the solar panels to be removed on May 12. The homeowner is still responsible to arrange and pay for the actual roof repairs. His final cost will be $499 plus whatever the roof repair costs. The nephew has returned several times to empty the buckets under the leak in the attic crawl space and he said that he can hear the squirrels chattering angrily above at this rude interruption.

 

Neither of the homeowners we talked to thinks that the savings from their solar power over the five or six years they’ve had them is enough to cover the cost to repair their roofs. If they had it all to do over again, one said he might or might not do it again; the other said he would but only with much more caution.

 

Both of these homeowners signed up originally with the same relatively small solar installation company. That company was subsequently acquired by a much larger national conglomerate whose main focus is not leasing and maintaining solar panels. The companies involved are not named here because the point is not whether this or that company is recommended or not recommended. The point is the importance of doing the research and having a good contract that spells out the services provided, timelines, costs involved, and responsibilities of both parties — homeowner and solar company. Contracts are often negotiable. See if they will do squirrel-abatement upfront. If there is only a standard contract that the company won’t budge on, be sure that it’s a contract you can live with.

 

Take your time. This investment resembles buying a car or house or any major appliance, something that you will be living with for years. Don’t take the first provider you hear about. There are a number of solar power companies working on the Shore. Talk to several of them, and try to get an apples-to-apples comparison of what they offer, what it costs, and what happens if there’s trouble. Look around online, and by all means be wary of sweet-talking salespeople and glitzy ads.

 

The upside of solar power is great — we’ll get to that in our next article — but before you sign on the dotted line, be sure you’re getting what you need and want. Who’s responsible for what? What remedies do you have if something goes wrong? Would your house insurance cover any problems? Has this company done other solar panel installations in your community that you can look at and speak to the homeowners? You need a contract that protects your interests, your property, and your pocketbook. Get it in writing — both the estimates and the final contract. Make multiple copies of all paperwork. And keep one copy of the contract handy — just in case things get squirrely!

 

For more information:

How to protect your solar panels from birds and squirrels https://www.thesolarnerd.com/blog/bird-squirrel-guards-for-solar-panels/

Maryland Energy Administration “A Maryland Consumer’s Guide to Solar”

https://energy.maryland.gov/Reports/A%20Maryland%20Consumers%20Guide%20to%20Solar.pdf

US Dept. of Energy “Planning a Home Solar Electric System” https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/planning-home-solar-electric-system

Energy Sage “Residential Solar Panels: What to Know About Solar Panels for Your Home”

https://news.energysage.com/residential-solar-panels-for-home/

 


Peter Heck is a Chestertown-based writer and editor, who spent 10 years at the Kent County News and three more with the Chestertown Spy. He is the author of 10 novels and co-author of four plays, a book reviewer for Asimov’s and Kirkus Reviews, and an incorrigible guitarist.

 

Jane Jewell is a writer, editor, photographer, and teacher. She has worked in news, publishing, and as the director of a national writer's group. She lives in Chestertown with her husband Peter Heck, a ginger cat named Riley, and a lot of books.


Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

US Wind, Oceantic Pitch Offshore Wind Future Amid Trump Attacks

By Jan Plotczyk • September 10, 2025
 At Shore Progress’s monthly meeting last week, the tension between national politics and local opportunity was on full display. With President Donald Trump escalating his attacks on offshore wind, representatives from US Wind and the Oceantic Network made their case directly to members gathered in Salisbury. From the outset, the presenters stressed the scale of what’s coming to the Eastern Shore. “This project is the equivalent of building two nuclear power plants off our coast,” US Wind representative Dave Wilson said, pointing to plans for 114 turbines and four offshore substations. Together, he said, the project will generate two net gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power approximately 26% of the homes in Maryland. The presentation walked members through the timeline: a four-phase buildout beginning in the southeast corner of the lease area, with each phase, including its own export cable, routed through Indian River Bay into the regional grid at the Indian River Power Plant in Delaware. Environmental safeguards on display Slides showed how US Wind plans to minimize negative effects on wildlife. The company will use an aircraft detection lighting system to keep turbines dark until a low-flying aircraft approaches, reducing night-sky light pollution. Marine protections include bubble curtains to dampen noise during pile driving, visual and acoustic monitoring for whales, and strict shutdown zones if animals enter construction areas. Lights will be on less than 1% of the time in any given year, underscoring their view that offshore wind can coexist with migratory birds, commercial fishing, and marine transit. Economic promise for the Shore The discussion turned quickly to what the project means locally. US Wind pledged hundreds of jobs for the Shore, with commitments to use union labor and partner with minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. Officials noted that the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance has already received $700,000 from Maryland Works for Wind to build training programs, while community colleges are adjusting trade curricula to educate the next generation of turbine technicians. A planned operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City will house technicians and crew transfer vessels, bringing steady employment and infrastructure investment to the harbor. A national fight with local stakes The meeting didn’t shy away from politics. Several members noted Trump’s repeated attempts to derail offshore wind projects including his latest push to revoke US Wind’s federal permit. US Wind officials acknowledged that such lawsuits could delay progress but insisted that the project’s federal approvals are on solid ground. “This is the Eastern Shore's moment,” Shore Progress Chair Jared Schablein said, referring to a slide that showed more than $815 million in offshore wind investments statewide. “The question is whether politics will slow us down, or whether we keep building for the Shore’s future.” The presentation had a clear message: Offshore wind is not just about clean power, but also about jobs, investment, and opportunity for Eastern Shore families. Jan Plotczyk spent 25 years as a survey and education statistician with the federal government, at the Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. She retired to Rock Hall.

Gov. Moore Signs “Housing Starts Here” Order to Tackle Maryland’s Affordability Crisis

By Gren Whitman • September 10, 2025
Standing at the Legacy at Twin Rivers apartment community in Howard County, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order aimed at addressing his state’s deepening housing crisis. Titled Housing Starts Here, his order is designed to accelerate construction of affordable homes and cut through what Moore called years of “no and slow” decision-making in state housing policy. Maryland is facing a shortage of at least 96,000 housing units, according to state estimates, a gap that officials say has driven up prices, pushed families out of the state, and stifled economic growth. “Building pathways to wealth for Marylanders, creating jobs, attracting new businesses and residents, growing our economy, and securing our future all start with housing,” Moore said at the signing. “We need to be the state of yes and now.” Five guiding principles The executive order lays out five core priorities for state housing policy: Use state land for housing . Agencies must identify surplus properties and land near transit stations that can be converted into new housing developments. Cut red tape. State permitting processes will be streamlined, with new rules allowing third-party reviewers to accelerate approvals. Strengthen partnerships. A new State Housing Ombudsman will serve as a liaison to help coordinate projects between state agencies, local governments, and developers. Set clear goals. By January 2026, the state will publish housing production targets for each county and update them every five years. Incentivize affordable housing. Jurisdictions that meet housing targets or pass pro-housing policies will be recognized with new Maryland Housing Leadership Awards, making them more competitive for state funding. Speed as the priority State officials said the new framework is focused on cutting delays that can hold back projects for years. By digitizing applications, engaging multiple agencies simultaneously, and allowing outside reviewers, the state aims to expedite project completion while upholding environmental and community standards. What could this mean for us on the Eastern Shore? Moore acknowledged that housing affordability consistently ranks as Marylanders’ No. 1 concern. For young people in particular, high costs and long commutes are major reasons they leave the state. The order seeks to reverse that trend, tying housing growth to job creation and transit access. On the Eastern Shore , where rental availability and starter homes are limited, Moore’s order could open opportunities for mixed-use, transit-oriented projects on state-owned land, as well as accelerate approval for affordable housing initiatives backed by nonprofits and local developers. What comes next The Department of Housing and Community Development will publish the state’s first set of production targets by Jan. 1, 2026, followed by annual progress reports starting in 2027. Agencies have until March 2026 to implement many of the new permitting and funding acceleration rules. Moore framed the executive order as a generational investment. “Making housing more affordable is not just about building shelter, it’s about building a legacy,” he said.

Alsobrooks Leads Push to Remove RFK Jr. From HHS, Citing “Costs, Chaos, and Corruption”

By Gren Whitman • September 10, 2025
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) has intensified her calls for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down, releasing a detailed report that she says proves his tenure has been a disaster for American families. The first senator to demand Kennedy’s resignation in May, Alsobrooks joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in unveiling a 54-page report that chronicles what they describe as the “costly, chaotic, and corrupt” record of Kennedy’s first 203 days at the department. Released before Kennedy’s Senate hearing last week, the report outlines examples of alleged mismanagement for each day since he was sworn in on Feb. 13. “Robert Kennedy’s tenure as America’s chief health officer has been higher costs, more chaos, and boundless corruption,” Wyden said. “His actions are endangering children, leaving parents confused and scared, and forcing families and taxpayers to pay more for their health care.” Echoing that assessment, Alsobrooks cited testimony from scientists at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland who she says have watched critical cancer research grind to a halt under Kennedy’s leadership. “His actions are increasing Americans’ health care costs, causing chaos, and furthering the Trump administration’s endless stream of corruption,” she said. The report argues that Kennedy has: Driven up costs by backing the Trump administration’s budget plan, which Alsobrooks says strips health coverage from 15 million Americans while handing tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. Created chaos by dismantling HHS programs, undermining research institutions, and promoting vaccine misinformation. Engaged in corruption by using the office to advance personal and family financial interests, particularly around limiting vaccine access. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, praised Alsobrooks’ leadership. “President Trump and Senate Republicans made a grievous error when entrusting Kennedy with our nation’s health,” the group said in. “It is far past time that President Trump rectifies this error by firing Kennedy before more lives are unnecessarily put at risk.” Alsobrooks appeared on the Morning Joe TV show on to discuss the findings and to reiterate her demand that Kennedy resign or be removed. “This is about protecting families and protecting science,” she said. “Our nation’s health system cannot afford another day under Robert Kennedy’s reckless watch.” As a community organizer, journalist, administrator, project planner/manager, and consultant, Gren Whitman has led neighborhood, umbrella, public interest, and political committees and groups, and worked for civil rights and anti-war organizations.

Wicomico Officials Advance ICE Partnership Amid Community Opposition and Rising Concerns

By CSES Staff • September 10, 2025
Wicomico County leaders have announced plans to move forward with the federal government’s controversial 287(g) program, entering into an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would deputize local officers to serve immigration warrants inside the county jail. Under the model selected, known as the Warrant Service Officer program, specially trained deputies at the detention center would be allowed to serve civil immigration warrants on individuals already in custody. County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis emphasized that deputies would not conduct street-level immigration enforcement. “Public safety is our top responsibility,” Giordano said. “The Warrant Service Officer program provides our sheriff’s office with the tools they need to address individuals already in custody who may pose a risk to our community at no additional cost to the county.” Lewis added that the program “gives our deputies the ability to safely and lawfully carry out their duties while ensuring that Wicomico County remains a secure place to live, work, and raise a family.” Community pushback The announcement drew swift opposition from civil rights and community organizations, including the ACLU of Maryland, the Wicomico NAACP, and local grassroots groups such as Crabs on the Shore, who have warned that the agreement will harm immigrant families, sow fear, and erode trust between residents and law enforcement. Opponents also criticized the process, arguing that the decision was rushed through without meaningful public input despite repeated calls for hearings. “This is being framed as an administrative detail, but it has huge consequences for our neighbors,” one advocate said. Concerns about cost and precedent Supporters of the WSO model have emphasized that the partnership comes “at no additional cost” to Wicomico taxpayers, but critics point out that other jurisdictions have found otherwise. Anne Arundel County canceled its own 287(g) agreement, citing high costs and community backlash. The Camden Police Department in Delaware withdrew from a similar partnership after public protests in May. Advocates note that the federal government does not fully reimburse counties for the time, training, and legal exposure associated with 287(g) programs, leaving local taxpayers to shoulder hidden expenses. First on Delmarva If finalized, Wicomico County would become the first government or police agency on the Delmarva Peninsula to formally enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Supporters say that distinction demonstrates a commitment to accountability and public safety. Opponents warn it risks branding the county as hostile to immigrant communities that have long been central to the Shore’s workforce, particularly in poultry processing and agriculture. The county’s decision comes amid a broader national debate about local involvement in federal immigration enforcement, with critics warning that partnerships like 287(g) make communities less safe by discouraging victims and witnesses from coming forward. For now, the final agreement is pending federal approval. But with strong opposition already mobilized, the fight over Wicomico’s new partnership is likely only beginning.

Wicomico Democrats Silent as County Leaders Advance ICE Agreement

By CSES Staff • September 10, 2025
Wicomico County Republicans have moved forward with an agreement to join the federal 287(g) program, aligning the county with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis are backing the program to train county officers at the detention center to help ICE identify non-citizens for deportation proceedings. The agreement has triggered strong pushback from immigrant advocates, civil rights groups, and community leaders who warn that this partnership will erode trust between residents and law enforcement, risk racial profiling, and allot local tax dollars to assist federal immigration enforcement. Yet amid the growing controversy, the Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee has issued no response to the ICE agreement, even as residents voice frustration that the Democratic establishment’s silence has ceded the conversation to Republicans. Moreover, the Central Committee has remained silent with regard to recent comments by Democratic Councilwoman April Jackson, who told the Washington Post that the poultry industry should reduce its reliance on immigrant workers. Jackson also said, “a lot of Americans aren’t employed because the Haitians are taking our jobs.” Jackson’s remarks have drawn widespread criticism from immigrant advocates. For many residents, the Democratic leadership’s silence is as much of a concern as the county government’s new partnership with ICE. As the county waits for federal approval of the 287(g) agreement, the absence of a Democratic counterweight has left immigrant families and community organizers to carry the opposition on their own.
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As Questions Swirl About County Executive Run, Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes to Host Community Conversation in Dorchester

By Community Desk • September 10, 2025
With speculation mounting that Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-37A) may run for County Executive for Wicomico County in 2026, the longtime Eastern Shore lawmaker will headline a Community Conversation in Dorchester County on Sept. 17 at 6 pm. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Democrats, the event will give residents the opportunity to hear Sample-Hughes speak about local priorities — schools, public safety, health care access, and economic development in the mid-Shore. Sample-Hughes, former Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegates, has represented portions of Wicomico and Dorchester counties for more than a decade. Her record includes bipartisan work on district projects, as well as efforts to expand health services and invest in infrastructure. Although organizers emphasize that the Sept. 17 gathering is not a campaign event, the timing has fueled interest. Political observers note that any appearance by Sample-Hughes will be closely watched as Democrats weigh potential challengers for County Executive in the upcoming cycle. The forum will include remarks from the delegate, followed by a question-and-answer session. Seating is available first-come, first-served and residents from across the Shore are encouraged to attend. Key details What: Community Conversation with Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes When: Sept. 17, 6 pm Where: Dorchester County, venue to be announced by organizers. Format: Remarks followed by audience Q&A Before her election to the House of Delegates, Sample-Hughes served on the Wicomico County Council. Should she enter the county executive race, many believe she would be a serious challenger to Republican incumbent Julie Giordano.
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