T h e B u s in e s s Of D a ir y
Solar Farms: Opportunity for Renewable Energy Options and Financial Gain or a Threat to Food Security and Local Economies?
Chances are you’ve taken a drive through the countryside somewhere in the Northeast and seen a solar farm — dozens and dozens of huge solar panels lined up in neat rows in open fields soaking up the sun. Dairy farms, often pointed to as major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, have become major players in this growing source of renewable energy that harnesses the sun’s rays using a complex photovoltaic system that typically supplies commercial power into the electricity grid. The concept is not without controversy, however. Those in favor of this type of technology see harnessing solar to create energy as a no-brainer for surrounding communities and the nation, as a whole. In some cases, this allows farmers to create their own power, thus decreasing energy costs on the farm. In other cases, it allows struggling farms to stay in business by leasing some or all of their land to companies looking for places to erect solar farms. Others, however, aren’t quite sure, with community members sometimes citing the solar farms as an eyesore and others wondering whether the benefits outweigh the impact that the loss of farmland has on food production and local economies. As the push for renewable energy sources and the struggle to keep farms going strong continue, the following articles present some of the facts related to both sides of the story.
SOLAR FARMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DAIRY FARMS Solar energy isn’t new, but it has become much more mainstream as Americans look for more reliable renewable energy sources. In New York State, for example, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act calls for installing 6,000 megawatts of solar by 2025 and has some of the most rigorous goals of any major economy in the world, according to climate.ny.gov. Similar initiatives are taking place in other states, as well. In April, President Joseph R. Biden announced a target for the U.S. to achieve a 50% to 52% reduction in greenhouse gas pollution by 2030. While some of these plans are purely focused on the environment, others, like solar projects, are intended to make economic sense, with benefits to businesses and homeowners alike, that can lower electric bills, offer tax credits and off-set utility cost. According to Goldman Sachs, the demand for solar energy has essentially tripled over the past seven years, as more and more businesses are committing to becoming net carbon NED Magazine | Third Quarter 2021 • 35
