Solar production and farming can—and should—coexist in Fayette County | Opinion
Solar energy generation isn’t a threat to agriculture—the wrong type of solar is. As a farmer, I’ve learned that when done right, solar can not only exist alongside agriculture but enhance it, benefiting both the energy grid and soil health while helping to preserve the agricultural way of life. As renewable energy’s importance grows, it’s crucial for modern farmers to differentiate between solar projects that may remove land from production and those that can improve and preserve it.
From the highway, solar arrays might not immediately resemble farmland. When I first saw these projects emerging on land that used to be farms, I wasn’t thrilled. How could these lifeless fields of glass and steel have anything to do with farming? But then I took a closer look.
What you don’t always see from the road are the sheep grazing beneath some of these arrays and the shepherds managing those sheep. This is part of an “agrivoltaic” approach: sheep help maintain the land by reducing the need for frequent mowing and herbicide use, while their waste naturally fertilizes the soil. Furthermore, the sale of lamb and wool from these operations supports the revival of the struggling American lamb industry.
Agrivoltaic solar farms may not look like traditional farms, but they function as such. They harvest energy from the sun and produce livestock, contributing to the food system while managing the land in a sustainable way. More importantly, they do so without depleting soil or natural resources, something not all farms can claim.
Solar projects—the right ones—are doing double duty. Not only are they gathering energy, but they’re also improving the land and soil, often leaving them in better condition than many conventional farms. For instance, the solar project proposed in Fayette includes planting deep-rooted, perennial pasture that will protect the soil and increase organic matter over time. This isn’t just about scattering seeds; it’s a deliberate, science-based approach to land management designed to keep the soil healthy and productive for years, even decades, to come. It’s an investment in the land that continues to pay off long after the panels are gone.
Solar isn’t the enemy of agriculture; it may be the lifeline that sustains it. The right solar projects don’t just coexist with farming—they complement it. They keep soils healthy and land productive, and help maintain the agricultural way of life. The future of farming depends on embracing a sustainable, integrated approach that ensures both agriculture and solar energy have a place in our landscape for generations to come.
Loran Shallenberger has been a farmer and rancher since 2007. He has been working with Silicon Ranch since 2021 and is currently the Senior Director of Regenerative Energy Operations.
