Is Your Land Right for a Solar Project?

There are over 2,500 solar farms in the U.S., ranging in size from a few dozen to hundreds of acres. Solar farms produce clean energy that helps communities lower utility costs and landowners generate stable income over decades. If you’re a landowner considering a solar farm lease, here’s what you’ll need to know.

What You Need

First, you must have the right-sized land. Some governing authorities regulate how large solar farms can be, but generally, companies look for at least 30 acres up to a few hundred, which allows for transmission-scale projects. The land must be flat and ideally, have a compact regular shape, which allows for a more efficient design of the panel arrays. Annual snow and rainfall are not factors, but the land must not be in a designated flood zone or jurisdictional wetland. For 30-100 acre solar farms, the land must also have access to power lines and be a reasonable distance from a substation, usually within three to five miles.

If your property is being farmed or has an agricultural tenant, you’ll have plenty of time to give notice and make changes. It takes months, sometimes years to get a project approved and ready for actual development, and you’ll have full use of the land and the profit from it until the project gets underway.

Profitability

Leasing to a solar farm tenant will almost certainly increase your profitability; we find that landowners average up to six times what they were earning per acre from a cash crop. The risk for the landowner is reduced dramatically, as well; most leases are 25 – 40 years and the revenue won’t be threatened by weather, changing market pricing, or subsidy policies.

Landowners have some legitimate concerns about the value of their property and the reaction they’ll get from their neighbors and visitors to the area. Mitigation issues are under the control of city or county boards. They’ll be able to create policies that ensure the land is managed using environmentally sound methods and that neighboring properties retain their value. They can require borders around the property to create natural visual barriers. Getting zoning and other legal permissions will be the work of the tenant company; all they ask is that the owner be publicly supportive of the project.

Clark Merritt, Scout Land Consultants’ VP of Land Acquisition, says solar leasing is a win/win for almost any rural landowner: “It’s a great way to diversify land use and create value from land that’s currently vacant or not suitable for the crop you want to grow. Beyond the obvious financial benefit over several decades, landowners can be sure that the land remains viable for the future. The panels are generally secured to steel I-beams in the ground, the topsoil remains intact, and the project is designed for the land to be used again for agriculture, keeping the soil composition at the forefront.”
 
Solar projects benefit the community as well, especially when compared to other kinds of developments. They’re quiet, they don’t generate any traffic, and they add valuable tax revenue for public use, which is welcome in areas where tax revenue and population may be declining. Site construction and maintenance create local jobs.

Next Steps

Solar is the fastest-growing energy source, and you can be proud to be part of the clean energy movement. If you’re wondering if a solar lease would be the right fit for your property and would like a complimentary site evaluationcontact us today.

Debunking Four Solar Farm Myths

Solar energy is positioned to become one of the most important pieces of America’s energy supply, especially as the Biden administration is transitioning the country from fossil fuels to renewable resources. One would expect landowners specifically, including farmers, to embrace sustainable energy as a welcomed source of extra income, but some do not. Oftentimes, there’s a reluctance to consider opportunities presented by developers. In hopes of educating those who have their doubts, what follows are a few of the more popular solar energy myths, debunked.

1. Solar farms risk going "belly-up"

For some, the fear of bankruptcy is tied to the thought of solar projects. Some believe the project developer and their creditworthiness is at stake. However, while project developers have a crucial role in planning and constructing the solar project, once it is operational, it is secured by a long term power purchase agreement (PPA) with the utility company. From then on, it is typical to have the project traded between developers and investment companies. So regardless of who owns the project, the utility will still be on the hook for purchasing power. All in all, maybe a better question to ask would be, “what are the odds the utility will go bankrupt?”. While this can happen, the odds are low.

2. Projects leave a mess at the end

Some landowners fear — once the project development approaches an end — that panels, wiring and sub-surface improvements will need to be cleaned up and removed from the property at their own expense. Most solar lease options include a decommissioning provision, which requires the project owner to remove the panels at the end of the term. But one question remains: “What if the owner decides that it is not worth the expense to remove?”

Decommissioning provisions can be required by law, depending on the state and can stipulate that, if panels or other unwanted materials remain on the property, the project owner must pay rent to the landowner. It’s important to note, though, that unlike other long-term infrastructure projects — like wind turbines or cell phone towers — solar farm construction is simple: solar projects require a series of fixed posts, each placed six feet into the ground, and removing them is much less expensive, comparatively. Additionally, the panels are made of highly valuable metals which can easily be salvaged in the event of a financial upside.

3. There will always be time

After developers extend offers, many landowners tend to think they can wait six months, or six years, before making a decision. However, one key constraint in solar development is the utility infrastructure, which can reach capacity as more solar farms are developed, since each power line and substation has a specific voltage it can handle. So a landowner might have property near a substation that initially offers a perfect solar project site, but if a project is then constructed on another property a mile down the road, you may no longer have the opportunity to move forward with your plans.

4. The land is tied up for years before rent begins

Some landowners can worry about their land being tied up for a few years before the rent starts to come in. Sometimes, when the property is currently being farmed or used recreationally, there is no limit on such usage during the development period. “Tying up” the property may indicate a loss in flexibility, but, if you’re a farmer in the growing season, for example, developers are often happy to include crop provisions to compensate the landowner for the potential damages. After working closely with landowners and developers over the years, we’ve learned that it helps for landowners to be specific about their concerns.

One unavoidable challenge, however, is the time investment. Developers must do their due diligence — investigating engineering, interconnection applications, permitting, and more — all before the likelihood of the project’s success is evaluated. So while it may seem like a “tie up,” there are legitimate reasons developers take their time.

Landowners can be reluctant to seriously consider solar farms, mainly because they are afraid of bankruptcy, the mess, and being tied up for years on end. Fortunately, these misconceptions about solar farms are easy to disprove, and well-informed landowners will evaluate the value of such opportunities as they come. Gaining a true understanding of the opportunities renewable energy provides is the only way we can come closer to achieving any serious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

With that said, as a landowner, it can be hard to know who to trust and what information is available. That’s where Scout Land Consultants comes in. Our team is dedicated to identifying sites for solar projects and helping secure land agreements with the country’s top developers. We act as an intermediary between developers and landowners to the benefit of, not only the parties involved, but also the community and environment. If you’re interested in learning more about what Scout Land Consultants can do for you and your community, give us a call at (904) 906-4113, or contact us for a complimentary site evaluation!

Farming the Countryside – A Podcast

Farming the Countryside Episode 224: The Opportunities and Challenges with Solar Leases

Andrew McCrea, creator of the Farming the Countryside podcast, welcomed Scout Land Consultants’ CEO, Nathan Fabrick, and VP of Land Acquisition, Clark Merritt on his show to candidly discuss the opportunities and challenges landowners and developers alike face when negotiating solar leases. The three tackle topics such as:

You can listen to the full episode below:

As Andrew mentioned in the episode, it can be difficult for landowners to navigate and decipher a developer’s intention and reputation. This is exemplified as the solar market continues to heat up and landowners are receiving multiple pieces of outreach from multiple sources. That’s where Scout Land Consultants comes in.

Our team is dedicated to identifying sites for solar projects and helping secure land agreements with the country’s top solar developers. We act as an intermediary between developers and landowners to the benefit of, not only the parties involved, but also the community and environment as well. If you’re interested in learning more about what Scout Land Consultants can do for you and your community, give us a call at (904) 906-4113, or contact us for a complimentary site evaluation!

Community Solar and Ohio’s Recent House Bill: What You Should Know

What is Community Solar?

Community solar projects can be defined as solar projects, within a geographic area, in which the benefits of a solar project flow to multiple customers. These are typically state-sponsored programs for renewable energy generation installed on lands adjacent to existing powerlines and grid infrastructure. An example of a community solar program could be a large array of solar panels in a field that provides the residents of nearby communities with power and reduces their overall electricity costs.

Community solar projects are becoming increasingly commonplace, as roughly ⅓ of states have adopted some form of community solar legislation. These laws impose stringent building rules and regulations on community solar projects to ensure that the project will not be detrimental to the environment, and will not negatively affect the residents’ current energy arrangements. In states that have yet to pass such legislation, community solar projects are typically undertaken by local utility companies.

There are many situations in today’s world where a community solar project makes sense. Oftentimes “greenfield” community solar projects are common in more rural areas, as their larger sizes allow more people to draw power from the array. These kinds of projects provide the benefits of solar power without the need to install panels on the roof of a home, as they are typically constructed “off-site,” meaning that the power is generated in a different location than the one that it is used in. Subscribers to these types of projects can simply drive by the field with the array and see the project that they’ve helped to create and benefit from.

Community solar projects are exciting new ventures that will revitalize our power infrastructure and benefit the communities that they serve. The advantages to these kinds of renewable energy projects are numerous and further incentivize a transition to more renewable energy sources.

Benefits of Community Solar

There are a multitude of benefits to be gained from community solar projects at both the individual and commercial levels. For individuals, community solar projects allow access to solar power for those who live too far from a large-scale array and for whom a personal rooftop solar project would be too expensive or inaccessible. 

These projects also decrease the cost of electricity for its ratepayers, as offering more diverse sources of electricity means more supply with the same demand, therefore resulting in lower prices. This point was explained by Ohio State Representative Laura Lanese in a recent statement where she said, “It’s a simple matter of the law of supply and demand. If we increase supply while holding demand constant, prices will go down. Even if demand goes up, as it likely will, having access to more electricity generation sources will only help consumers save off price increases.”

Another benefit to community solar projects that Lanese outlines in her statement is that of cleaner air. She states that the transition away from fossil fuels will result in cleaner air, improved health, and huge savings in healthcare costs. Lanese goes on to say, “It is estimated that fossil fuels cost the US nearly $120 billion in health care costs and contribute to four out of five of the leading causes of deaths.” In essence, community solar projects could help to improve the general health of citizens in the area as well as reduce healthcare expenses! 

Community solar projects also provide value in the way of national defense as our world becomes more reliant on renewable sources of energy. Lanese describes this in her statement, citing China’s current increased focus on renewable energy as one reason that the United States should continue investing in green energy sources like solar. Investing in renewable energy is a necessary measure to ensure the national security of our nation in the coming future.

What Does the Recent House Bill Mean for Ohio?

House Bill 450 is a bill currently being introduced to the Ohio legislature which seeks to encourage the construction of community solar projects in the state of Ohio through a variety of means. This bill will bolster Ohio’s power infrastructure, improve the lives of ratepayers, and help to meet the growing demand for renewable energy.

Lower Power Costs

  • One such initiative outlined in the bill will prevent changes to subscribers’ rates as a result of community solar projects. Essentially, these projects will keep the power bills down!
  • This stipulation will protect subscribers from price hikes as a result of community solar programs, as well as prevents them from being unjustly disconnected from service.
  • Increased electricity prices are often one of the largest concerns around community solar projects; however, based on HB450, it is an unfounded concern.
Power Grid Improvement

  • Community solar projects can lead to the improvement of the existing power grid.
  • Solar developers will fund overdue improvements to aging powerlines and other power infrastructures, thus creating a more reliable and resilient power grid.
  • Also included in the bill is financial assistance for companies who update the existing power infrastructure in order to construct their community solar projects. This is simply another incentive to produce more community solar projects in the state of Ohio.
Distressed Site Renovation
 
  • The final way that this bill will encourage new community solar programs is through the renovation of distressed sites. The bill seeks to use distressed sites, unusable tracts of land such as old landfills or coal ash piles, as locations for new solar developments. In this way, these sites will be revitalized and, once more, positively contribute to society through high-power generating solar projects.
  • Companies that use a distressed site as the location for their community solar project will be eligible to receive a grant from the Ohio Department of Development, thereby further incentivizing companies to build in Ohio.

Community solar is simpler than it may seem and initiatives like the ones included in HB450 are making it easier for individuals to incorporate solar power into their everyday lives! If you’re a landowner curious about how to lease your unused property for a solar project, why not reach out to one of our experienced professionals here at Scout Land Consultants?

Scout Land Consultants’ access to the latest listings and historical sales data, leading technology, and local experts allows our team to evaluate your property to its fullest potential. We act as an intermediary between developers and landowners to the benefit of, not only the parties involved, but the community and environment as well. If you’re interested in learning more about what Scout Land Consultants can do for you and your community, give us a call at (904) 906-4113, or contact us for a complimentary site evaluation!

5 Questions You Should Be Asking Before Leasing Your Property for Solar

So, you’re a landowner. And one day, out of the blue, you get a call from a company telling you they’re interested in leasing or purchasing your land to develop a solar facility. The rate seems pretty attractive, but does the whole idea seem a bit too good to be true?

As our team at Scout Land Consultants has overseen the execution of over 1,400 leases across 38 states, we can tell you there are some important questions that aren’t being asked. So, we’ve compiled a list of the top five questions landowners should be asking before leasing or selling their property for a solar project:

1. Is that really the actual dollar amount I’ll receive?

The eye-catching number is usually the above-market lease rate. In some areas, developers are paying more than $1,000 per acre per year for farmland that you may have been leasing for $250 per year. However, due diligence periods can last two to three years with very little money at risk. Some developers will offer nothing, with the justification that the utility applications are expensive and they want to focus their investment on project development.

It’s true that it takes a while to achieve an interconnection agreement with the utility and there are significant costs involved, BUT it’s certainly fair that a landowner should receive some option money for the time. If nothing else, $1,000 to $2,000 per year is enough to ensure the developer is taking your project seriously. Remember, money talks, so ask for some of it up front.

2. Is the developer reputable?

What many landowners don’t know is that there are numerous small companies, with little money and resources, who will sign a lease option, then immediately sell the project to a bigger developer. While this isn’t always a bad thing – because the little guys have great personalities and like to hustle – you’re introducing a middleman who will be taking a big bite out of the profits and doesn’t have all the information.

So, make sure to look for companies who are designed to develop AND HOLD these projects long term. The best way to check on this is to ask how many projects they’ve constructed and how many they currently own! Also, check on the assignment language in the lease, and make sure that the developer can’t just flip the contract to anyone they choose. If you press them on it, legitimate developers will agree to some limitations or remove the clause altogether.

3. Should I lease or sell? Or both?

Our team has heard countless landowners say they have more interest in selling their properties rather than entering a long-term lease. Developers are happy to accommodate, assuming you will accept a low option premium and give them time to complete their interconnection and permitting before closing. However, what landowners don’t think about is that if you enter a long-term lease AND the project gets developed, then you can sell your property with the project on it as an investment property with a long-term revenue stream backed by a utility company.

For example, let’s say your property is worth $5,000 per acre for farming, and the developer wants to pay you $10,000 per acre for a purchase option. You may be able to get $15-$20,000 per acre if you go the lease route, then later sell the property to an investor.

4. Should I wait?

If you’ve ever seen the movie, “There Will Be Blood,” you’ll remember the scene at the end where Daniel Day Lewis is explaining to a man – who thought his property was valuable for oil deposits – that it is worthless due to drilling on surrounding properties that extracted all the oil from under his land. Solar projects are not much different than the man’s situation in that the power needs to run through a substation, and substations can only handle so much power.

So, if you have a neighbor up the street who leases their land and an application is filed ahead of you, then they may take up all the power on the property, rendering your land useless for solar. Of course, you need to do your due diligence, but these offers have a timeframe.

5. Should I shop around?

When the solar craze hits your area, it may seem like the gold rush and you’re sitting on the mine. You may be tempted to shop around for the highest lease rate, but beware! The solar power purchase agreements issued by the utilities are often awarded by a competitive bid. If the land lease rate is too high, then the project cost increases. This will then require the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) rate to be higher and bump the project out of contention.

Legitimate developers will recognize this and limit the rate they’ll pay. But often, it’s the smaller developers who will pay whatever it takes to tie the project up, only to have it sit on the sidelines when the awards are announced. The best way to get around this is to do your research on the developer. And just like with any company, a successful track record is usually the best indicator.

As a landowner, it can be difficult to navigate and decipher a developer’s intention and reputation. This difficulty is only exemplified as the solar market continues to heat up and landowners are receiving multiple pieces of outreach from multiple sources. That’s where Scout Land Consultants comes in.

Our team is dedicated to identifying sites for solar projects and helping secure land agreements with the country’s top solar developers. We act as an intermediary between developers and landowners to the benefit of, not only the parties involved, but also the community and environment as well. If you’re a landowner interested in having your property evaluated for solar or looking for the perfect buyer, please contact us for a complimentary site evaluation.

Back to Basics: How a Solar Farm Works

Solar energy is a plentiful and abundant resource that has enormous potential for the future. Solar makes up a relatively small portion of the overall energy production in the United States, but that’s rapidly changing. Using solar energy allows individuals and business owners to save money on electricity while also reducing their carbon footprint. What’s more, solar power is a clean, renewable resource as well as the most readily available energy source.

With those being the benefits, why isn’t it more widely used? The answer is at least partially due to the inconsistency of solar power and the lack of storage. Let’s look at the basics of solar energy, along with the pros and cons.

Solar Energy is Efficient & Eco-Friendly

Solar energy is created by the sun at an impressive rate. Research from the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that enough sunlight hits the surface of the earth every 90 minutes to power the entire world’s energy needs for a year. Among renewable resources, solar energy is probably the most efficient.

Solar energy is much more environmentally friendly than traditional methods for generating electricity. If you’re a landowner, allowing your property to house a solar project may be an environmentally friendly and practical way to gain a new revenue stream.

Here’s How It Works

A developer acquires a site lease on a property, builds a solar project, and establishes a long-term contract to sell the power back to the local utility. During the operating term of the project, which is typically anywhere from 25 to 40 years, the landowner is paid a fixed rent. It usually takes between 18 to 24 months from the time the site lease is signed to the time the solar system is operational.

This situation is beneficial to the landowner because it provides a long-term fixed income and costs the landowner nothing. What’s more, during the lease period, you as a landowner can use your property however you wish, even continuing to farm under certain conditions.

Would Solar Be A Good Fit for Your Property?

A site typically needs to be flat, clear, and dry to become a solar farm. That’s not all there is to it, though. Solar farms can range from as small as five acres up to more than 1,000 acres. It takes four to eight acres of suitable land to generate one megawatt of power, and while some community solar projects only require one megawatt, most developers are working to create solar projects of ten megawatts or greater, so they often combine several neighboring pieces of land to create a large enough site.

Your property does not have to be completely flat to generate solar power. In fact, if it has a slight slope to the south or the east, that may be beneficial because it increases the sun exposure. Regulations vary from state to state but, in general, a solar farm cannot be constructed within a 100 or 500 year floodplain and cannot contain any wetlands. It must also be conveniently located to the utility’s infrastructure, adjacent to three-phase distribution lines and, ideally, close to a substation. The closer the solar farm is to a substation, the less energy is lost as it travels to that substation.

It can be complicated to get into solar development, but it helps to partner with a company with expertise in the field. Scout Land Consultants helps inform landowners of the potential for their property and connects them with developers that can maximize its value. Acting as mediator between developers and landowners, we work to integrate solar development, benefiting not only those directly involved but also the environment and communities served.

If you’re interested in being a part of this exciting new push toward sustainable energy, contact us for a complimentary site evaluation!

Why are Substations Important?

Solar energy development is gaining ground in the United States, and with good reason. It provides clean energy and reduces the user’s carbon footprint. It makes sense that many landowners would be excited about the idea of using a portion of their property as a solar farm, but there are many factors that come into play in terms of a project’s viability. One of these factors is appropriate substation access.

What are substations, and why are they important?

With any source of electricity, whether a traditional electrical plant or a utility-scale solar system, substations serve an important purpose. While a house needs roughly 120 volts of electricity to operate safely, transmission lines from power plants can carry extremely high voltage. A transmission line may have 34,500-500,000 volts running through it, and if all that power were to flow into one house, the results would be deadly. A substation serves to step up power to high voltages for travel between long distances and steps down the power to a safe voltage for human use at the commercial and residential level.

An electrical substation converts voltage from high to low thresholds, or low to high, which is vital because voltage varies significantly. This type of facility is designed to regulate energy throughout a certain region, sending power back and forth from suppliers to consumers. Solar farms use solar panels to utilize energy from the sun and then take that power and send it out to homes and businesses throughout the area. Many think of it like a switching station that the utility can control.

If you’re trying to develop your property for solar use, you’ll need a substation or transmission lines nearby, depending on the size of your property. When the infrastructure is located far away, a dedicated line, called a generation tie, will have to be constructed, at a cost of about one hundred dollars per foot. Because this cost is paid by the developer, a solar project that is far from a substation is not going to be as appealing as one that’s closer and more cost-effective.

It can be complicated to get into solar development, but it helps to partner with a company with expertise in the field.

Connecting landowners with developers helps both parties make the most of their resources. Acting as a mediator between developers and landowners, Scout Land Consultants works to smoothly and successfully integrate solar development, benefiting not only those directly involved but also the environment.

If you’re interested in being part of this exciting new push toward sustainable energy, contact us today!

Could Solar Power Help Save the World?

Politicians and government officials throughout the developed world have committed to reducing carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy sources. Solar power is one of the most reliable and affordable alternatives, and many countries, including the U.S., are increasing their investment in solar power.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change

Fossil fuels are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat and send the earth barreling toward 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial temperatures—the point of no return that could make it impossible to get the climate back to normal.

Fortunately, switching to renewable energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions without asking society to return to the Stone Age. The idea that people could rely primarily on renewable energy is not naively optimistic—it could actually work thanks to the falling costs and skyrocketing installation rates of solar panels.

Falling Solar Prices

According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), solar has experienced an average annual growth rate of 33% over the past decade. Solar power generation in the U.S. has grown dramatically, from 0.34 gigawatts (GW) in 2008, to 142.3 GW of total installed capacity in 2022, enough to power 25 million American homes.

A 2022 study compared the fuel, running, and maintenance cost of America’s coal fleet with the building of new solar or wind from scratch in the same utility region. The study found that on average, the marginal cost for the coal plants is $36 each megawatt hour, while new solar is about $24 each megawatt hour, or about a third cheaper.

Skyrocketing Solar Installations

In 2022, 50% of all new electric capacity added to the grid came from solar, the largest such share in history. Power producers have been responding to lower costs with an explosion of solar projects. The U.S. increased its solar power capacity by about 50 percent in just the past two years.

If the exponential growth of solar continues—along with the corresponding phasing out of fossil fuels and accelerated transition to electric vehicles—greenhouse gas emissions could possibly fall at the rates needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Now is the Time to Act

It may feel like no single person can make a difference in the world’s climate, but the good news is that there is a lot we can still do as individuals to change this narrative. Changing the way we consume energy can save money and perhaps even help save the planet. That includes the idea of installing solar on your land.

If you’re a landowner, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the climate by putting unused acreage to use as a solar farm. Not only can this decision help save the world, but it can add income to your pocket as well. Many solar developers are willing to offer lease fees that far exceed the per-acre earnings from traditional farming and ranching.

For help negotiating and navigating what can be a complex process with potential solar developers, turn to Scout Land Consultants. We have been helping landowners sign fair, profitable solar farm leases since 2014.

Determining your site’s solar suitability is the first step, so contact us today to schedule a complimentary, comprehensive evaluation.

Solar is More Affordable and More Available than Ever

Solar is more affordable, accessible, and prevalent than ever before. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), solar has experienced an average annual growth rate of 33% over the past decade. Solar power generation in the U.S. has grown dramatically, from just 0.34 gigawatts (GW) in 2008 to 142.3 GW of total installed capacity in 2022. That’s enough to power 25 million American homes.

Solar also generates jobs. As of 2021, more than 255,000 Americans work in solar at more than 10,000 companies in every U.S. state. In that same year, the solar industry generated nearly $33 billion of private investment in the American economy.

While these figures sound impressive, solar only accounts for just over three percent of electricity production in the United States. This percentage has been slowly rising for over a decade. Still, analysts have long pointed out that a more robust transition to solar will only happen when this renewable energy source becomes cheaper than traditional fuels. We may be nearing the tipping point, since the cost of installing residential solar has dropped by 50%, even without tax incentives.

Solar-Powered Electricity Costs Less Than Coal

The Guardian reports that a 2022 analysis, “conducted in the wake of the $370 billion in tax credits and other support for clean energy passed by Democrats in last summer’s Inflation Reduction Act, compared the fuel, running and maintenance cost of America’s coal fleet with the building of new solar or wind from scratch in the same utility region. The study found that on average, the marginal cost for the coal plants is $36 each megawatt hour, while new solar is about $24 each megawatt hour, or about a third cheaper.”

How Much Solar Power Does the U.S. Need?

In 2022, 50% of all new electric capacity added to the grid came from solar, the largest such share in history. The White House set out a target of 80% renewable energy generation by 2030 and 100% carbon-free electricity five years later. How much solar power is needed to reach this goal?

Consider that with just 22,000 square miles of land—roughly the same surface area as Lake
Michigan—solar farms could produce enough electricity to power every home and business in the country. Many of the United States’ solar panels are also installed on rooftops with essentially no land-use impacts. An estimated one in seven U.S. homes will have rooftop solar panels by 2030, reducing the land-use requirements for solar farms even further.

Take Advantage of Decreasing Solar Costs

The drastic decline in solar prices over the past few years has increased the demand for solar farms. If you’re a landowner, consider leasing your property to a solar developer. The potential lease fee could far exceed the per-acre earnings from traditional farming and ranching. Plus, solar farms contribute to the renewable energy revolution and help ensure cleaner air and water for future generations.

The abundance and potential of solar power in the U.S. is staggering. Now is the time to get involved! For help negotiating a deal with potential solar developers, turn to Scout Land Consultants. We have been helping landowners sign fair, profitable agreements since 2014.

A complimentary, comprehensive evaluation tells you how suitable your land is for solar development, so contact us today to get started!