Para la versión en español, por favor oprima aqui.
Energy consumption is on the rise, creating new demand for renewable energy project sites.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Futures study estimates that to fully decarbonize the energy grid, solar will need to make up 40% to 45% of the energy mix, or about 1,600 gigawatts of capacity, by 2050. That type of expansion will require an estimated 10.3 million acres of land, 90% of which will be in rural areas. As development expands, the location, or “siting,” of each project requires careful consideration.
Farmland appeals to solar developers because it is typically free of trees and rocks and requires less alteration before construction. Marginal agricultural land is generally defined as land that is not suitable for conventional crop production and has little to no agricultural value. While such land can be used for crop production, it can also be used for alternative agricultural practices such as grazing, or set aside as habitat.
