A recent USDA study found the majority of agricultural land near solar and wind farms remains in agricultural use, despite the expansion of renewable energy projects. This finding challenges concerns about potential land use competition between renewable energy development and agriculture.
Solar and wind farmland use:
· Renewable energy projects occupied an estimated 424,000 acres of rural land in 2020.
· Most projects installed in recent years are located on agricultural land.
Land cover changes:
· Cropland or pasture-rangeland typically maintained the same land cover after the addition of solar or wind development.
· Land cover changed on approximately 20% of solar sites and only 4% of wind turbine sites.
Agricultural land persistence:
· About 85% of cropland and pasture-rangeland near solar farms remained in agricultural production.
· Wind turbine development showed even higher compatibility with agricultural production.
Regional differences and project distribution
Solar Projects:
· Most common in the West, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions.
· 43% of rural solar projects installed from 2012-2020 were on cropland.
· The Midwest had the highest share (70%) of solar installations on cropland.
Wind turbines:
· Concentrated in areas with consistent, high wind speeds.
· Most prominent in the Plains, followed by the Midwest and West.
· Installations in the Plains and West were primarily on pasture and rangelands.
Implications. The study suggests renewable energy development can coexist with agricultural production in many cases. However, the researchers noted these projects have local socioeconomic effects on rural communities, providing benefits such as leasing and tax revenue while also potentially imposing costs related to landscape changes, noise, and altered views. As the U.S. continues to expand its renewable energy capacity, with wind and solar accounting for 10.7% of electricity generation, this research provides insights into the relationship between renewable energy development and agricultural land use.
