4 FAQs about Labor costs for rural solar power generation

Can solar power be integrated into rural communities?

One foreseeable challenge with integrating renewables like solar into rural communities is the interconnection queue, or the list of energy projects requesting and awaiting connection to the power grid. According to the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), building a new transmission line can take anywhere from three to nine years.

What percentage of solar development will be on agricultural land?

Modeling by the American Farmland Trust (AFT) finds that 83% of projected solar development will be on agricultural land, of which 49% will be on land AFT deems “nationally significant” due to high levels of productivity, versatility, and resiliency.

What percentage of agrivoltaic projects are based on agricultural output?

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's agrivoltaics map, 59% of the nation's 567 projects defined as incorporating “agrivoltaics” did not list an agricultural output as an outcome, instead exclusively incorporating pollinator or native grass habitats.

Is solar energy a good investment for farmland?

Solar energy is leading the way, with much of the new development occurring on farmland and in rural communities. It has the potential to be a financial opportunity for landowners, yet it can also create barriers for farmer renters and the next generation.

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