1、Solar and Farmland PreservationSarah Mills,PhDUSDA Ag Outlook ForumFebruary 27,2025 PhD in rural land use planning Investigate claims of wind as farmland preservation tool Surveys of 4,000+Michiganders near windfarms Research on renewable energy policy,public opinionResearch on economic impacts of s
2、olar on farm communities in MidwestNationwide survey of solar farm neighbors Funding from Michigan Energy Office in EGLEEncourage proactive planning&zoningProvide state-based dataPresent pros and consMy background,perspective2Solar:New Threat or Opportunity?“Renewable energy creates opportunities fo
3、r farmers and landowners to earn new income but also poses threats to farmland and local food systems.”Both?https:/farmland.org/project/farms-under-threat/Not what Im talking aboutSheep grazing possibleOther crops niche at the largest scale for medium termWhat Im talking aboutAssembly Solar,Shiawass
4、ee County,MI1900 acresPrairie Wolf Solar,Coles County,IL,1625 acresWhat Im talking aboutIn service:7,941 MWApproved:+6,899 MW75k 119k acresBeing studied:162,348 MW812k-1.3M acres900-1,400 acres/projecthttps:/www.misoenergy.org/planning/resource-utilization/GI_Queue/Accessed 2/22/25What Im talking ab
5、outIn service:7,941 MWApproved:+6,899 MW75k 119k acresBeing studied:162,348 MW812k-1.3M acres900-1,400 acres/projecthttps:/www.misoenergy.org/planning/resource-utilization/GI_Queue/Accessed 2/22/25What Im talking aboutIn service:7,941 MWApproved:+6,899 MW75k 119k acresBeing studied:162,348 MW812k-1.
6、3M acres900-1,400 acres/projecthttps:/www.misoenergy.org/planning/resource-utilization/GI_Queue/Accessed 2/22/25Solar:New Threat or Opportunity?Urban boundaryRural vistaHabitatLand for growing foodFarm livelihoodsWhat are you trying to preserve?Urban boundaryRural vistaHabitatLand for growing foodFa