Weekly Brief

Meeting Energy Goals with Utility-Scale Solar Plants

A utility-scale solar project needs large amounts of land, and an array of solar panels capable of producing power from the sun can be installed on farmland.

Utilities Tech Outlook | Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Due to abundant open areas and typically flat terrain, farms provide desirable locations for utility-scale solar.

FREMONT, CA: A utility-scale solar project needs large amounts of land, and an array of solar panels capable of producing power from the sun can be installed on farmland. A solar array can be up to five megawatts and produce power using the sun's energy. The average utility-scale solar project produces more than 100 megawatts, even though a five-megawatt solar plant requires at least 25 acres of space and could power 500 to 1,200 homes.

The United States will need to construct thousands of utility-scale solar projects across millions of acres to achieve its target of producing 100 percent renewable power by 2035. Solar panels' lack of energy density, which results in their ability to convert only around 25 percent of sunshine into power, is one factor. More efficient solar panels would require less room. Agricultural property and rural regions offer desirable locations for utility-scale solar due to the huge lot sizes that reduce disputes with nearby landowners. However, some individuals object to using agricultural land for solar projects due to aesthetic considerations, the possible loss of food and fiber production, or the impact on the regional agricultural sector. Utility-scale solar and agricultural production are anticipated to face further competition for land. However, combining solar and agricultural projects on the same land is possible.

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It is common for hundreds to thousands of ground-mounted solar panels to make up a utility-scale solar installation, which frequently also incorporates neighboring structures with sizable batteries for electricity storage. The term utility-scale solar project can refer to a solar farm, park, plant, or power station. Utility-scale solar systems are mostly used to produce power and provide it to clients off-site. Rural electric cooperatives or public utilities own a utility-scale solar facility. Large land tracts and relatively level topography make farmland appealing to utility-scale solar producers. Utility-scale solar may include a sizeable monthly lease payment from the builder of the solar facility for landowners.

Utility-scale solar farms may obstruct picturesque vistas by occupying hundreds of acres of space. Local farm economies may be harmed by removing agricultural land from production, and costs and rents for land leased for utility-scale solar may increase. Restoring a solar plant's land to agricultural agriculture has certain drawbacks. Nevertheless, some landowners have persisted in grazing small animals like sheep, providing habitat for pollinators, or cultivating vegetables next to solar panels. But it is impossible to grow vast row crops like maize or wheat. How utility-scale solar on agriculture is governed varies across state and municipal governments. The ability to create a comprehensive plan, zoning legislation, and subdivision and land development restrictions that consider utility-scale solar is frequently lacking in rural communities. As a result, when presented with a proposal for a utility-scale solar plant on farmland, they could be unprepared.

State and local governments determine whether to permit the construction of utility-scale solar projects in general, particularly on agricultural land. The amount of utility-scale solar will depend on carefully considering each solar plant proposal, which can take a long period. Additionally, farmers may consider augmenting their income by leasing land for utility-scale solar as a viable option.

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Weekly Brief

Meeting Energy Goals with Utility-Scale Solar Plants

A utility-scale solar project needs large amounts of land, and an array of solar panels capable of producing power from the sun can be installed on farmland.