American Farmland Trust Releases ‘Smart Solar’ Recommendations to Address Agricultural Concerns

American Farmland Trust (AFT) released “Smart Solar” policy recommendations for state and local governments to keep land in farming and strengthen farm viability as the U.S. builds out solar. Samantha Levy, Conservation and Climate Policy Manager for AFT, explained “AFT released these recommendations to guide the proactive state and local policymaking we need to achieve a solar buildout that aggressively reduces GHG emissions to slow climate change while strengthening farm communities and food security in the process.” Though solar can be an important economic opportunity for farmland owners in the form of long-term solar leases, it can also increase competition for land for farmer-renters and aspiring farmland owners. AFT developed four Smart Solar principles to effectively address these concerns and maximize benefits to farm communities while advancing solar.