[Baltimore Sun] Maryland farmers have well-grounded concerns about solar | READER COMMENTARY
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A recent editorial in The Baltimore Sun highlighted agrivoltaics as a potential solution for meeting Maryland’s ambitious greenhouse gas emission goals (“Farm-based solar power can be a lifeline for agriculture,” Aug. 5). While solar energy is crucial for achieving the targets of the Clean Energy for Jobs Act of 2019, it is essential that this progress does not come at the expense of Maryland’s farmers.
I urge caution when discussing the conversion to agrivoltaics. Current data does not fully support its implementation as an effective use of farmland. Although it has shown promise for some producers, like wildflowers and small livestock, it has not demonstrated the same potential for row crops or vegetables. A 2023 study in the Agroforestry Journal found that crop yields decrease when paired with solar panels, meaning much more of our finite land is needed to produce the same amount of food.
Ongoing research aims to identify the best crops and livestock setups for agrivoltaic systems, but it is too early to ask farmers to commit resources to an unproven method. Maryland has already lost over 12,000 acres of farmland in the past five years, exacerbating food insecurity and limiting local food production. Given the scarcity of fertile agricultural land, it would be simply be unproductive to cover these areas with solar panels.
A more balanced approach would involve placing solar panels on rooftops, parking lots, brownfields or less desirable soils which would allow for significant solar energy generation without compromising prime agricultural land. By doing so, Maryland can meet its clean energy goals while preserving the vital farmland that sustains us.
— Jamie Raley, Davidsonville
The writer is president of the Maryland Farm Bureau.
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