Sunlight vs. the seed of the earth. Photovoltaic panels are putting US farmland at risk

The solar industry is expanding its presence in the US Midwest, attracted by advantages such as low land rents, easy access to energy transmission networks and generous subsidies. The wide open lands in this region are becoming attractions for developers of photovoltaic parks, according to Agerpres.

An eloquent example is the photovoltaic park that Dunns Bridge Solar LLC built in Wheatfield, Indiana, on 445 acres leased from farmer Dave Duttlinger. However, the conversion of agricultural land into solar parks is raising concerns among farmers.

Dave Duttlinger, whose farm has been affected by this renewable energy boom, expresses his disappointment. “I will never be able to grow anything in that field again”he says, watching his fertile land being transformed by construction machinery and covered with solar panels.

Attractive rents for solar park developers raise questions about land use. Reuters data shows that renting land for the construction of photovoltaic installations brings significant profits compared to rents for arable land in the same states.

Despite the criticism, some developers of renewable projects say they will maintain the possibility of farming between photovoltaic panels or implement innovative agricultural techniques for land management. However, economists and agronomists warn that using even small areas of arable land for solar projects can negatively affect US soil and agricultural production.

To meet the decarbonization targets set by the Biden administration for 2050, the United States will need to rely heavily on solar power. However, estimates show that most new PV facilities will be built on arable land, fueling fears about the impact on food production.

Despite the disagreements, some farmers, like Norm Welker of Indiana, see leasing land for solar projects as a more profitable alternative compared to traditional farming: “We have heaps of corn, we are at a level that does not cover production costs, and if you rent land to grow corn you lose money. From this point of view, my economic circumstances are very good”says Norm Welker.

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