Virginia farmers share views on solar in new survey released by American Farmland Trust

Source: American Farmland Trust News Release

Takeaway points:

• American Farmland Trust (AFT) has released findings from its 2024 survey of 240 Virginia farmers and landowners, exploring their views on solar energy development.

• According to AFT's Farmland Under Threat analysis, farmland in Virginia is facing growing conversion pressure from residential, commercial, and urban development. If recent trends continue, over 594,000 acres (7%) of Virginia's farmland could be fragmented or converted to uses that jeopardize agriculture.

• The survey revealed that while farmers generally support solar energy, they are concerned about its potential impact on agricultural land.

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Full story below:

Virginia Farmers Share Views on Solar in New Survey Released by American Farmland Trust

(Richmond, VA / April 11, 2025) American Farmland Trust (AFT) has released findings from its 2024 survey of 240 Virginia farmers and landowners, exploring their views on solar energy development. Conducted across 78 counties, the survey is part of AFT’s Smart Solar initiative, designed to balance the growth of solar energy with agricultural viability and farmland preservation in states experiencing significant development pressures on productive working lands. Key among the results from AFT’s Virginia survey is that farmers want solar companies that show they are invested in the community. In addition to the survey, AFT conducted a series of in-depth interviews to better understand the concerns and interests of farmers navigating solar development in the Commonwealth.

Image credit - Mark Stebnicki

According to AFT's Farmland Under Threat analysis, farmland in Virginia is facing growing conversion pressure from residential, commercial and urban development. If recent trends continue, over 594,000 acres (7%) of Virginia's farmland could be fragmented or converted to uses that jeopardize agriculture. With solar energy production expanding rapidly, particularly in rural areas, AFT is focused on ensuring that solar development does not compound development pressure and instead supports both agriculture and renewable energy goals. The 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act sets a target of 16,100 megawatts of solar energy by 2035, driving increased demand for solar projects in agricultural regions. Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Jamie Mierau, reflects further saying, “The survey shows that Virginia farmers are open to solar development, but they want to see careful planning and consideration for the impact on agricultural land. Farmers want solar projects that are thoughtfully sited by developers that prioritize community engagement, ensuring these projects align with the needs and values of rural Virginia.”

The survey revealed that while farmers generally support solar energy, they are concerned about its potential impact on agricultural land. A majority of respondents want solar projects to be thoughtfully sited, taking into account the scale, location, and potential for negative impacts on rural communities. Farmers also expressed strong interest in learning about agrivoltaics, the practice of intentionally designing and operating a solar energy facility that enables and sustains viable agricultural production. However, numerous respondents noted that additional education, technical assistance and resources are needed to help farmers fully understand the benefits and feasibility of this approach.

Additionally, the survey highlighted the critical need for greater engagement in solar development. Farmers stressed that solar developers should work closely with local communities to ensure that projects align with rural values and agricultural priorities.

AFT’s Smart Solar initiative will use these survey results to support farmers and landowners in making informed decisions about solar development on their land. The organization will also promote best practices for solar developers and advocate for policies that balance solar energy growth with preserving farmland. Furthermore, AFT will provide educational resources to help farmers understand agrivoltaics and other sustainable practices that can integrate agriculture and renewable energy. In February, AFT released a comprehensive set of national recommendations for agrivoltaics to guide and advance incentives that would enable agricultural production to occur within a solar project facility.

Ethan Winter, National Smart Solar Director for AFT, reiterates, “The findings of our Virginia survey highlight strong interest among farmers in a more agriculturally compatible approach to solar energy development. There is potential to expand agrivoltaics in Virginia. However, there's a simultaneous call for more education and resources to help farmers fully understand how this approach can allow for sustainable futures. The team at American Farmland Trust is ready to work with farmers and communities to support these efforts.”

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American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food® message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect nearly 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.