Solar panels occupy farmland

Are solar panels depleting farmlands?

Farmland preservation groups believe 83 percent of new solar installations will come from farm and ranch lands with half of these installations on the richest land for food and crops. Solar energy is depleting farmlands of their rich soils in the U.S. Midwest.

Why is solar power destroying farmland?

While the leases provide for damage control, the land is being depleted of its rich top soil as the solar developers build their roads and other infrastructure. Solar power is just one more industry that is removing important farmland from production by offering much higher rents for the land than farmers can afford to pay.

Will 83 percent of solar energy be on farmland?

Researchers at American Farmland Trust, a non-profit farmland protection organization, however, found that 83 percent of new solar energy development in the United States will be on farm and ranchland, unless current government policies change. Nearly half would be on the nation’s best land for producing food, fiber, and other crops.

Are solar energy facilities displacing farmland?

Driven by subsidies, mandates and federal and state policies compelling the use of more renewable energy, solar energy facilities are now displacing farmland at an increasing rate.