With the ongoing drought in California and other western states, thousands of acres of land that were once fertile for farm use have gone fallow. While some of this land will be farmable again when the water returns, much of it will need to be retired. Thankfully, retired farmland is finding new life as solar farms have begun cropping up on farmland that has fallen into disuse.

Enough Energy to Power More than 500 Homes

Utility company Northwestern Energy is working with California-based Cypress Creek Renewables on a 40-acre solar farm in Montana. Although Northwestern does have many small solar customers, this is the first large-scale solar project. The contract is for 25 years — which ensures a consistent price point for both companies — and is predicted to generate enough energy to power over 500 homes.

The agreement with Northwestern Energy — which has been providing utility services to five states for over 80 years — is just another indication that solar energy is growing as a sustainable power alternative.

The rise of solar energy and solar farms is also coinciding with the disappearance of farmable lands due to mineral build-up, as well as droughts in states like California, leading many in the agricultural business to consider adding solar panels to their existing structures, or in some cases replacing unusable farmland altogether with multi-acre installations.

Similar to the way that solar energy has been replacing hydroelectricity in the past few dry years, solar can bring a source of revenue to retired farm land. While water levels have been unreliable throughout the West, sunlight is consistent and can be relied upon for energy and income.

New Hope for Farmlands

Some in the agriculture industry have opposed putting solar farms on retired farmland, perceiving it as a threat to already limited land resources. However, there are just as many proponents of solar farms within the agricultural community, who perceive the farms as offering new hope to those who have been forced to retire their farm lands due to drought.

A recent piece in the Sacramento Bee examined the plight of San Joaquin Valley farmers who are retiring farmland because of state laws limiting groundwater extraction. The article pointed out that “as many as 300,000 acres could permanently disappear from agriculture.” In these cases, solar farming presents an alternative use for unfarmable land and brings employment opportunities to otherwise struggling areas.

Enabling Farmers to Supplement Income

Solar is also an option for farmers looking to supplement their income. Panels can be installed on roofs if ground space is limited, and will pay for themselves in long-term power savings. They can also help insulate owners against unpredictable energy costs. Solar panels do not necessarily need to supplant farmable land to provide usefulness to the community.

Additionally, farmers can take advantage of multiple government programs to lower upfront costs, including the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program, which provides loans and grant guarantees to assist with renewable energy investments.

All signs point to solar becoming an increasingly viable option for farmers who are being forced to retire their land. This is especially so for farmers in California, where the drought has had a tremendous impact on the amount of usable farmland, and where there are strong incentives in place to promote the adaptation of solar.

If you’d like to find out how installing solar panels on your roof can help you drive your electric bill down to zero, contact us today for a free quote.