MAINE PUBLIC • February 8, 2022
Maine's solar energy business is booming, and many farmers are tapping into the market by leasing their fields to solar companies. But a recent task force report is urging a more thoughtful and measured approach to prevent solar panels from gobbling up too much Maine farmland. Amanda Beal, commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, told lawmakers on Tuesday that the state wants to find ways to balance the needs and economic interests of farmers with strategies to achieve Maine’s ambitious climate goals. In its report issued last month, the Agricultural Solar Stakeholder Group recommended looking to other states but also launching a robust pilot project to explore the best strategies for dual use of farmlands.