New York Tackles the Myth That Solar is Swallowing Farmland
This story was originally published by Canary Media and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. In rural areas across the US, solar power opponents keep leaning on the argument that utility-scale arrays are gobbling up valuable farmland. But plenty of evidence proves that’s just not true, and now, New York is tackling the misinformation head-on. […]
New York is addressing the misconception that solar power installations are displacing valuable farmland across rural areas. The state has written an 11-page letter defending renewables, explaining that farmers can lease land to solar developers and return it to agricultural use afterwards. A Cornell study revealed that most farmers using solar lease income continued or even expanded their farming operations.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a guidebook demonstrating how solar and farming can coexist, showcasing sheep grazing beneath panels on several New York farms. The state has zoning rules and protections in place to preserve undeveloped land. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, solar farms currently occupy only 0.13 percent of New York's prime farmland, a fraction significantly smaller than golf courses and suburban developments.
Influencers like Alexandra Fasulo, who has over a million followers on social media, have amplified the anti-solar narrative. In California's Central Valley, drought has led to hundreds of thousands of acres going fallow, prompting farmers to lease land to solar developers instead. Farmers in Illinois have also successfully integrated sheep into their solar farm operations, benefiting from the arrangement without needing to maintain extensive pastures.
Climate benefits, such as reducing reliance on fossil fuels, also contribute to the overall advantages of solar energy.
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
