Maine Proposes Increased Fees for Solar Farming Amid Rising Heat Concerns
The Complex Balance of Solar Farming in Maine: A Case Study on Renewable Energy and Agriculture
The integration of solar panels on agricultural land has emerged as a crucial strategy in the U.S. push for renewable energy. However, a controversial proposal in Maine to increase fees for developers operating on agricultural land highlights the challenges of expanding clean energy initiatives, even in states with ambitious emissions reduction objectives.
Maine is a frontrunner in the growing trend of agrivoltaics, which allows for the shared use of land for agriculture and solar energy production. A landmark agrivoltaics project emerged in 2021 when a 10-acre blueberry farm in Rockport became the largest site of its kind in the nation. This project served as a crucial test to evaluate the economic viability of co-locating solar panels in farming settings.
Unfortunately, the project did not meet expectations. According to Lily Calderwood, a specialist at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension who monitored the initiative, the shade cast by solar panels hindered crop production and increased operational costs due to the need for smaller, specialized farming equipment. Calderwood noted, “For blueberry farmers, dual-use farming has become economically unfeasible because of the shading and logistical challenges. They simply won’t profit from the crops as they are being overshadowed.”
As Maine seeks to enhance local agricultural output by the decade’s end and transition to 100% clean energy by 2040, the state faces the challenge of protecting agricultural land while promoting renewable energy development. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is currently drafting regulations that will impose an additional fee on developers who wish to construct renewable energy projects on more than five acres of “high-value agricultural soils.”
While concerns persist regarding the reliability of current energy infrastructure to support solar demand, many farmers have successfully integrated solar arrays into their operations. Evelyn Norton, co-owner of Southern Farm in Livermore Falls, Maine, and her sister made the decision to allocate 15% of their 135-acre farm to solar arrays in 2021, soon after her father’s passing. “He always emphasized that the farm had to adapt to changing circumstances,” said Norton. “To him, this was just another evolution in farming. He believed that while they had always farmed with sunlight, they were now farming sunshine itself, benefitting the broader community.”
The solar array at Southern Farm consists of approximately 14,000 panels, generating around 6.5 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually—most of which powers five local schools, a meaningful contribution to the Norton family’s legacy, especially since their mother was a teacher.
Norton highlighted that the solar panels have provided a reliable source of additional income, particularly beneficial in years when agricultural yields, such as hay, are compromised by adverse weather conditions. Through the income generated by the solar projects, the Norton family could repair their farm’s expensive heating system when it broke down. “It offers us the security and reassurance that our farm is protected,” she said. “It’s truly a comforting safeguard.”
ReVision Energy, the installer of the Norton family’s solar array, warns that increased state fees may threaten future projects. Such regulations could hinder Maine’s progress toward its clean energy goals, which include a benchmark of 80% renewable energy usage by 2030. “Imposing more permitting hurdles or costs makes our goals harder to achieve, affecting everyone,” asserted Lindsay Bourgoine, the firm’s director of policy and government affairs.
As per the Department of Energy, decarbonizing the electrical sector by 2050 will necessitate dedicating around 10 million acres of land to solar energy generation. Although this represents only a small segment of the nation’s total land area, finding suitable land remains challenging. Developers require large, flat tracts of land that are situated near energy infrastructure.
Farmland is particularly appealing to solar developers due to its flatness, sunlight exposure, and proximity to existing energy systems. According to the American Farmland Trust (AFT), an organization committed to protecting farmland, roughly 83% of new solar developments are likely to occur on agricultural land unless comprehensive policies are implemented to safeguard food production.
AFT has cited Maine’s regulatory fees for solar development as a potential model for other states aiming to balance renewable energy growth with agricultural preservation. The organization has urged Congress to investigate the effects of solar installations on agricultural land. A recent proposal in the Senate farm bill directs federal agencies to devise strategies that enable both agricultural producers and solar developers to foster renewable energy projects while conserving soil health.
“The pertinent question for our national solar expansion isn’t whether we’ll proceed, but how we will move forward,” remarked AFT Policy Director Tim Fink. “The decisions made today regarding how we achieve this crucial climate objective will dictate whether we can support rural communities while protecting our most productive agricultural lands for future generations, or if we will allow a significant, irreversible shift in land use.”
Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.