How much of New York’s prime farmland is being used for solar farms?
An analysis from the Solar Energy Industries Association has found that just 0.13% of the state’s U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified prime farmland is covered by solar projects.
New York has roughly 13,000 square miles of USDA-designated prime farmland, meaning solar projects occupy only about 17.3 square miles of it, according to SEIA.
Solar capacity, both small-scale and utility-scale, has increased rapidly in recent years. On June 3, New York hit its highest hourly solar generation with 5.6 gigawatts — about 29% of the state’s total demand.
Those scale facilities, often seen covering open fields in rural upstate New York, can be visually striking — leading to resident concerns. And some agricultural advocates argue prime farmland should be avoided even when acreage impacts are small.
Why solar developers target farmland in New York
Farmland is targeted for solar development because it’s typically flat, already cleared of vegetation and close to transmission lines.
What is the biggest threat to farmland?
While solar energy faces scrutiny around conversion of farmland, the most prevalent threat nationwide is low-density residential growth. Between 2001 and 2016, more than 10.9 million acres of farmland and ranchland in the United States was developed or compromised; 6.8 million acres were converted to low-density residential, according to an analysis by the American Farmland Trust.
— Steve Howe reports on suburban growth, development and environment for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: How much New York farmland is used for solar?
Reporting by Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
