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.

What percentage of new solar energy development will 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. Conclusion

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.

How much land is currently under solar panels?

Because land deals are typically private transactions, the amount of cropland currently under solar panels or leased for possible future development is unknown. The United States Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are compiling a database of existing solar facilities across the country.

Do land leases protect landowners from solar panels?

While land leases generally offer protection for landowners so that farms can be reclaimed from the solar installations, in practice damage is already being done with remediation as long as 50 years in the future.

Why are farmers leasing land in the Midwest for solar development?

Farmers are leasing land in the Midwest for solar development as the industry moves there due to the government’s massive subsidies, and the area’s cheap rents, access to transmission and wide-open spaces.