Crops, Cows, & Solar — In Iowa! – CleanTechnica

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Creating a field of solar panels to generate power doesn’t have to mean taking farmland out of agricultural production. Mallory Tope, a policy associate with the Center for Rural Affairs, says “dual use solar” is an excellent solution for meeting the growing demand for renewable energy while also utilizing Iowa’s fertile soil for growing crops — and growing other things. “A dual use solar site combines solar generation with agricultural use,” Tope told Radio Iowa recently. “There’s a lot of different options. You could do livestock grazing, crop production, pollinator habitat, beekeeping, but it really just is the essence of using the same land to have ag and solar generation.”

The Center for Rural Affairs is no “woke” band of wild eyed radicals bent on the destruction of a traditional way of life. On its website, it says, “We are unapologetically rural. We stand up for the small family farmer and rancher, new business owner, and rural communities. For more than 50 years, we’ve been a leading force engaging people to build a better rural future. We live this work. Welcome to our rural revolution.” It describes its mission as establishing “strong rural communities, social and economic justice, environmental stewardship, and genuine opportunity for all while engaging people in decisions that affect the quality of their lives and the future of their communities.”

The Center recently launched an educational campaign designed to reach policymakers at the city, county, and state level to inform them about agriculture and solar. “There’s a lot of concern around having solar on agricultural land and taking that land out of production, but with dual use, you’re able to get both and have all the benefits that come with having a solar site,” Tope says. “You get the tax revenues, the landowners get their lease payment, but you still get to use that land for agricultural production.”

The Center for Rural Affairs is working to encourage local leaders to consider agri-solar and dual use when drafting or amending ordinances that relate to solar development. “It’s a great solution, as a lot of people maybe don’t want to completely take out land for just solar, but with agri-solar, you still can get some use out of it,” Tope says. “It’s kind of like the best of both worlds, having that energy generation and being able to still use your land for some agricultural usage.”

To support dual use development, Tope says counties could set additional land use expectations, adopt zoning approaches that allow for mixed land use, or set up overlay districts for special solar permits. A report from the Clean Grid Alliance says Iowa has more than 30 million acres of farmland, with about 18 million considered “prime” acres. About 2,500 acres statewide are devoted to solar. Combined, they generate 260 megawatts of clean, zero-emissions electricity.

A Solar Road Map For Rural Communities

The Center for Rural Affairs says, “As the demand for renewable energy grows, solar deployment will continue to rise. Many state and local governments are discussing the future impact of solar development on agricultural land. Dual-use solar, often referred to as agri-solar or agrivoltaics, involves the practice of allowing for solar generation and agriculture in the same space and can help address concerns about solar on agricultural land. Local decision makers should consider the following topics when engaging in the ordinance development or amendment process.” Here’s more directly from the roadmap:

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Land Use Planning

Many counties use comprehensive land use plans to help guide solar development. These plans reflect the values and vision of the community. Decision makers need to consider how the language in these land use plans can promote or inhibit agri-solar development. For example:

• • Land use regulations often include language aimed at preserving agricultural heritage and farmland.
  • Language around agricultural resource protection and dual use are often interpreted in a variety of ways by counties and local decision makers.

Adopting dual use practices offers an alternative to the either/or mentality regarding agricultural and clean energy development.

Solar sites can preserve agricultural land by being combined with:

• • Livestock grazing
  • Crop production
  • Pollinator habitat
  • Beekeeping

Additionally, dual use solar allows landowners and counties to take advantage of the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy development.

Clean energy can benefit counties through:

• • Increased tax revenues
  • Lease payments to local landowners
  • New job creation
  • Environmental benefits
  • New revenue streams for local farmers

The inclusion of renewable energy development in a county’s comprehensive plan ensures the economic benefits of agri-solar development are considered when ordinances are created or amended.

Zoning and siting regulations

Local decision makers can ensure that development meets a community’s needs by adopting an ordinance before a clean energy project is proposed. By engaging in a proactive process, decision makers can make sure there is time to receive community input and feedback on the proposed language.

Counties should consider setting additional land use expectations for dual use, and they should use zoning schemes that allow for mixed land use. This could include:

• • Establishing overlay districts, which would allow a special permit for solar in certain zones.
  • Allowing development when certain land-use standards are met, such as placing a specific percentage of land into pollinator habitat.
  • Crafting siting regulations to ensure dual use practices are not limited or prohibited, which includes avoiding setting restrictions on panel height or developing overly prescriptive vegetation management requirements.

Definitions

Local officials can ensure ordinances do not prevent dual use solar by creating refined definitions for solar generation, farmland, and farm use within the county’s zoning and siting regulations. The definitions establish which applications and practices will be considered dual use. For example, in Oregon, a rule was adopted allowing for dual use practices on high value soils. The rule only specifies agrivoltaics and grazing, meaning pollinator habitats or other conservation uses do not qualify.

Interaction of dual use goals

When creating policies, local officials should consider the interaction of dual use goals, as some requirements may unintentionally restrict beneficial practices. For instance, requirements for native vegetation or pollinator friendly habitats may inadvertently restrict grazing opportunities if the site’s plants are unsuitable as forage.

Additionally, to ensure it benefits pollinators, vegetation must be allowed to bloom, which means grazing schedules may need to be adjusted or withheld until the vegetation is fully established. Local governments can use ordinances to minimize land impact during the construction and decommissioning of solar energy systems. Regulations can minimize impact and ensure the land can be used for farming at the end of the project’s life cycle by:

• • Setting clear guidelines for land management during construction and decommissioning.
  • Establishing requirements for construction, vegetation management, and decommissioning
    that spell out the expectations and obligations.

The requirements could include:

• • Completing construction in a minimally disruptive manner by using low-impact selective
    cutting plans and burying lines.
  • Installing solar arrays with consideration for dual use; for example, installing a temporary fence
    for grazing flocks, or extending solar height and width to accommodate farm equipment.
  • Financial guarantees to ensure funds are available for decommissioning to make sure local
    governments are not responsible for costs.

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The Takeaway

This road map is the definition of a proactive approach to incorporating solar into agricultural communities. Instead of waiting for a developer to show up in town with a grand scheme to turn 40,000 acres of farmland into the world’s largest solar farm, plan in advance for how and where dual use projects should be located and managed. Frankly, as a blueprint, it is brilliant.

The one thing to keep in mind is that combining solar and agriculture can put more money in the pockets of small farmers. Ranching and growing crops are two or the hardest tasks imaginable. Farmers often need to take on large debts to purchase the equipment they need, as well as the seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers necessary for a successful harvest. Knowing they have a guaranteed income from the solar panels that are installed on their property can help them and their families sleep at night.

There is a lot of opposition to solar in rural areas, but much of that is promoted by outsiders who are being paid by fossil fuel interests to spread rumors, innuendo, and half truths about solar. Those people are not farmers and seldom live in the communities where they foment resistance to solar. Having a clear, concise plan like the one proposed by the Center for Rural Affairs is logical, rational, and straight forward. As a blueprint, it could hardly be improved upon.