Climate, Conservation and Energy

Why Democrats Are Concerned About the Loss of Farmland to Solar Development

Solar projects pay well and can help a farm survive, but they can also take good ground out of production. Democrats are often divided on this, since it pits two priorities they care about against each other.

Why is this a Democratic dilemma?

Many Democrats strongly support clean energy and also care about protecting farmland, so solar on productive cropland puts the two in tension. Some members stress rapid build-out; others stress siting on less productive land first.

That tension is why you will hear different Democrats say different things, and why it is worth reading the specific proposal.

There is also a third group: those who support solar but want it built on rooftops, parking lots and brownfields first, leaving farmland for crops.

What are the concerns about farmland?

Supporters of limits worry about prime soils and irrigated acres going out of production for decades, rising land prices that squeeze out farmers who rent, and the effect on local agricultural businesses. They also raise reclamation: what happens to the land at the end of a lease.

The NRCS publishes soil and land-capability information, and the Census of Agriculture tracks farmland trends. Check whether a proposed site is prime or irrigated before drawing conclusions.

The numbers on acreage vary by project and by county, so ask for the developer's site plan and compare it with the soil map before you form a view.

What do supporters of solar on farms say?

They say a lease can give a landowner steady income through bad crop years, help a family hold onto the land, and support local tax bases. Some projects allow sheep grazing or pollinator habitat. They argue that well-designed rules can steer projects toward poorer land.

Clean energy supporters add that agriculture will be hit hard by climate change, so building renewables is also in farmers' interest.

• Lease income that steadies farm finances
• Siting on marginal or already disturbed land
• Decommissioning and reclamation requirements
• Dual-use projects such as grazing under panels

What does decommissioning mean?

Decommissioning is the process of removing panels, wiring and foundations at the end of a project. Landowners should insist that the lease spells out who pays, what condition the soil must be returned to, and what financial security backs the promise. Without that, a landowner could be left with a cleanup bill.

Some local governments now require decommissioning plans and bonds as part of permits. Supporters of stricter siting rules often start here, since it is a less controversial step than banning projects outright.

What do critics argue?

Some critics say that solar should not be built on productive farmland at all and that mandates are pushing projects onto good ground. Others, particularly property-rights advocates, say landowners should be free to lease to whomever they choose and that restrictions amount to taking value.

The facts around land impact vary by project, so ask for site-specific data. The USDA Economic Research Service and extension research provide some context, and so do local planning documents.

Ask also who will maintain the land under and around the panels, how weeds will be controlled and whether grazing is allowed.

What should a landowner ask before signing?

Read the whole lease with a lawyer. Ask about length, payment terms and escalators, who pays property taxes, access roads, crop damage, drainage tile, water rights, decommissioning bonds and what happens if the developer sells the project. Get everything in writing.

Talk to your tax professional, your lender and the Colorado Department of Agriculture or CSU Extension about how a lease could affect land values and programs you use. Money basics are at this farm money resource.

Ask neighbors who have signed leases how the developer has behaved, and keep your own copy of every document. Local planning boards usually post agendas online, which is a quick way to learn what has been proposed near you.

How does this look in southern Colorado, and where can you read more?

Sunny, open land in the Arkansas Valley, the San Luis Valley and the Eastern Plains is attractive to developers. A county near Pueblo may weigh solar income against irrigated ground and water rights, which are valuable on their own. County commissioners decide many siting questions, so attend those meetings.

For planning basics for a small property, see a small farm guide. The Colorado Water Conservation Board has water planning information.

Check current state and county rules, since they change. At farm.FM, the farming stories cover land decisions, and the agribusiness section covers land values and income. See a farm.FM story on solar leases and farmland.

Sources and further reading

• USDA NRCS: conservation programs and technical help
• Census of Agriculture: USDA census of farms
• USDA Economic Research Service: farm economy data and analysis
• Colorado Department of Agriculture: state agriculture agency
• CSU Extension: Colorado State extension
• Colorado Water Conservation Board: water planning

Ask locally: Have an ag attorney review any solar lease and ask your county commissioners how the project would be sited and permitted.