Overcoming Unreasonably Burdensome Restrictions on the Use of Farmland for Solar Generation

Report: Overcoming Unreasonably Burdensome Restrictions on the Use of Farmland for Solar Generation

Abstract

In towns and counties across the United States, local governments have adopted severe and unreasonably burdensome restrictions on the use of farmland for utility-scale solar energy facilities. These restrictions are preventing solar development on millions of acres of land and impeding the energy transition. Existing state law is sufficient to overcome local restrictions in many states, but additional reform may be required in others. This working paper describes strategies for overcoming local restrictions under existing law and sets out a menu of options for reform.

Topics

Social Perspectives

Farmer/landowner perspectives
Community perspectives
Solar Industry perspective
Implementation barriers

Policy and Regulatory Issues

Ag policies and regs
Energy policies and regs
Incentive structures
Federal/state/county policies

Reviews/Informational

Author: Matthew Eisenson

Organizations: Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative (RELDI) and Property and Environment Research Center (PERC)

Published

: SSRN, 2023

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4666386
Online: Internet link for Overcoming Unreasonably Burdensome Restrictions on the Use of Farmland for Solar Generation

Citation

Matthew Eisenson (Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative (RELDI), Property and Environment Research Center (PERC)). 2023. Overcoming Unreasonably Burdensome Restrictions on the Use of Farmland for Solar Generation. SSRN: SSRN.