Can You Make Money Leasing Land For Solar Power? – Ag Matters

The combination of poor milk prices and a state mandate to increase renewable energy will have lots of farmers thinking about leasing land for the production of solar power.  Is it right for you and your farm? Cornell Cooperative Extension' and the NYS Farm Bureau can help with the answer.

The year 2030 may sound far off, but it'll be here before we know it.  That's the date the New York State’s Clean Energy Commitment wants 50% the state's electricity to come from renewable energy.  That has solar companies searching for land to lease for the production of energy.  And farmers have lots of land.  While leasing some seldom used acres can bring extra cash flow, what is the commitment and strings that are attached?

You can get the answer to those questions and many others at a free seminar on Landowner Considerations for Solar Land Leases. CCE and NYS Farm Bureau host the event Thursday, July 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer BOCES 4747 Middle Settlement Road in New Hartford.  To reserve a spot, please call the New York Farm Bureau Central New York Regional Office at 315-252-1367 or email jrossi@nyfb.org or Mary Wrege at 315-736-3394 Ext 131 or email: mpw57@cornell.edu

SOURCE:  Cornell Cooperative Extension Mary Wrege