As sprawl threatens farmland, proposed Maine rules single out just one competing land use: solar | Energy News Network

Solar Developers to Pay Premium for Building on Prime Farmland in Maine

The state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in Maine is in the process of drafting new rules that will require solar developers to pay additional fees for building projects on prime farmland. These rules are based on a 2023 law that allows the department to collect extra fees from developers whose projects impact at least 5 acres of “high-value agricultural soils.” The specific definition of “high-value agricultural soils” will be determined through ongoing rulemaking.

The purpose of the program is to introduce a range of new fees for different types of farmland and project impacts. The funds collected from these fees will be allocated for “farmland conservation and solar mitigation projects.” Supporters of the rules hope that they will encourage renewable energy development in areas with less conservation value, promoting sustainable development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• The state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in Maine is drafting new rules that will require solar developers to pay additional fees for building projects on prime farmland.
• The rules are based on a 2023 law that allows the department to collect extra fees from developers whose projects impact at least 5 acres of “high-value agricultural soils.”
• The specific definition of “high-value agricultural soils” will be determined through ongoing rulemaking.
• The program aims to introduce a range of new fees for different types of farmland and project impacts.
• The funds collected from these fees will be allocated for “farmland conservation and solar mitigation projects.”
• Supporters hope that the rules will encourage renewable energy development in areas with less conservation value.

However, critics argue that the rules unfairly target solar development based solely on anecdotal evidence of its impact on farmland. A recent report by the American Farmland Trust projected that low-density housing and urban sprawl threaten to consume over 53,000 acres, or 5% of all Maine farmland, by 2040. This highlights the need for comprehensive data on land use and consideration of other types of development, such as housing and commercial projects, in addition to solar.

• Critics argue that the rules unfairly target solar development based solely on anecdotal evidence of its impact on farmland.
• A recent report by the American Farmland Trust projected that low-density housing and urban sprawl threaten to consume over 53,000 acres, or 5% of all Maine farmland, by 2040.
• Comprehensive data on land use and consideration of other types of development, such as housing and commercial projects, is needed in addition to solar.

Limited Data and Local Concerns

Advocates for solar development argue that there is insufficient data to support the claim that solar poses a greater risk to prime farmland compared to other types of development. They emphasize the importance of gathering more land-use data and expanding mitigation tools to include more common uses like housing and commercial development. Maine’s climate plan includes a goal of transitioning to 100% renewable electricity by 2040 and conserving 30% of the state’s land by 2030.

• Advocates argue that there is insufficient data to support the claim that solar poses a greater risk to prime farmland compared to other types of development.
• Maine’s climate plan includes a goal of transitioning to 100% renewable electricity by 2040 and conserving 30% of the state’s land by 2030.

Keeping Farmers’ Options Open

Farmers and farm conservation groups are concerned about the loss of high-value farmland to solar production. They worry that the new fee structure may prevent farmers from using solar as a means of revenue diversification to keep their farms viable. However, they hope that the rules will incentivize solar projects to be located on marginal land that is less productive or disconnected from large active growing areas.

• Farmers and farm conservation groups are concerned about the loss of high-value farmland to solar production.
• They worry that the new fee structure may prevent farmers from using solar as a means of revenue diversification to keep their farms viable.
• They hope that the rules will incentivize solar projects to be located on marginal land that is less productive or disconnected from large active growing areas.

‘It Gives Us Security’

Landowners who have successfully integrated solar into their farms highlight the benefits of revenue diversification and land protection. For example, Evelyn Norton’s family farm in Livermore Falls, Maine, installed a community solar array on their least productive plot of land. The annual lease payments from the solar array now provide the farm’s largest source of revenue, ensuring the protection of their entire property. However, there are concerns that the new fee structure may hinder other farmers from adopting similar approaches.

• Landowners who have successfully integrated solar into their farms highlight the benefits of revenue diversification and land protection.
• For example, Evelyn Norton’s family farm in Livermore Falls, Maine, installed a community solar array on their least productive plot of land.
• The annual lease payments from the solar array now provide the farm’s largest source of revenue, ensuring the protection of their entire property.

Pushing Toward Costlier Approaches

Advocates hope that the new fee structure will balance the costs of solar development, making farmland less automatically attractive as a site. They suggest that solar developers consider lower-quality soils and explore dual-use agricultural and solar production methods, such as agrivoltaics projects. Additionally, increasing costs for building on farmland may make brownfields and developed spaces more appealing for solar development, promoting sustainable land use.

• Advocates hope that the new fee structure will balance the costs of solar development, making farmland less automatically attractive as a site.
• They suggest exploring dual-use agricultural and solar production methods, such as agrivoltaics projects.
• Increasing costs for building on farmland may make brownfields and developed spaces more appealing for solar development.

The state of Maine is currently seeking stakeholder input on a draft farmland rule, with the final fee structures expected to be approved by the legislature. These fee structures will apply to solar arrays beginning construction after September 1, 2024.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land, and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of renewable energy projects implemented on farmland (indicator for SDG 7.2)
• Amount of farmland conserved through solar mitigation projects (indicator for SDG 11.3)
• Extent of integration of climate change measures into land-use planning (indicator for SDG 13.2)
• Area of farmland restored or protected from conversion to non-agricultural uses (indicator for SDG 15.3)

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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