Farm and Food
Policy
As renewable energy development expands across agricultural landscapes, solar projects present a unique opportunity to promote soil health and long-term land productivity.
With energy developers’ and farmers’ increased interest and investment in solar projects, concerns have emerged about potential disruptions to agricultural land, soil degradation, and the possibility of diminished agricultural productivity after a project’s decommissioning.
But solar projects can be designed to protect and enhance the land’s soil and agricultural potential by implementing low-impact construction methods, establishing deep-rooted native vegetation, and integrating dual-use strategies such as grazing or crop production.
