Public Hearing Set for Solar Plants

Crops need sunshine, but some farmers are concerned there might be too much of a good thing.

In recent months, many in the agricultural industry have expressed concerned about the rapid development of solar energy in Louisiana before the State has a state regulatory framework in place for the solar industry.  These same solar energy concerns echoed during the 2021 State Legislative Session.  

At issue is that Louisiana is a tenet farmer state, meaning that the majority of farmers rent, rather than own the land they farm on.  Conversion of farmland into solar farms could mean the loss of livelihood for those tenet farmers.

Senate Resolution 182 by Senator Beth Mizell passed the 2021 Louisiana State Regular Legislative Session, requesting the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to jointly conduct a public meeting to listen to concerns about solar energy.

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry have scheduled a joint public hearing to be held Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the 

LaSalle Office Building on 617 North 3rd Street in Baton Rouge.  The meeting will be held in the 

LaBelle Room on the first floor.

Farmers, landowners, and those involved in the agricultural industry are invited to attend to discuss concerns such as the agricultural production losses, loss of sales for agricultural businesses and lending, funding to restore land after solar sites are decommissioned, impact to agricultural infrastructure, plus other relevant issues.  

Louisiana Farm Bureau is urging a good showing from the agriculture community to present their concerns at the hearing, so that lawmakers can see the faces of those this regulatory effort will affect.