Climate change and loss of agricultural land to non-farming uses threaten New England agriculture. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont all have state-based renewable energy.
goals and farmland protection goals. This workshop provides an overview of smart solar siting principles, examples of co-locating solar on farmland, best management practices that enhance conservation outcomes, and solar and conservation easement compatibility. We’ll share examples of solar projects on farmland and discuss ways that towns and cities can adopt policies and practices to promote a balanced approach to solar developments while retaining and protecting agricultural land.
Core speakers include: Emily Cole, Ph.D.– American Farmland Trust and Jake Marley– Hyperion Systems, LLC.
State specific contributors include: Alex DePillis– Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, Ellen Griswold– Maine Farmland Trust, Lexie Hain- Agrivoltaic Solutions LLC., Nancy McBrady– Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Alex Metzger– Monadnock Conservancy, Madeleine Mineau– Clean Energy NH, and Tyler Miller- Vermont Land Trust.