SUN JOURNAL • February 20, 2022
My grandfather farmed his entire life in central Maine. He had a saying — houses were the last crop that a field would ever produce. Once a house or subdivision is built, the days of that land being productive for agricultural purposes are over. Maine has an active and robust agricultural community. But at the same time, it’s a tough grind for many. A solar farm should almost always be one of those tools for a farmer to consider — if they and a developer so choose. Unless there is a definitive, proven problem with “losing” farmland or some hidden unmet demand for farmland is suddenly exposed, we should allow the sun to shine down on every farmer’s field, producing whatever crop works best for them. Yes, even solar electricity. ~ Jay Nutting, Vassalboro