Solar Farms vs. Farmland in New York | Buffalo News

New York’s solar revolution is booming—already surpassing its eight-gigawatt target and on track for ten by 2030—but the rush to install panels is sparking a fierce debate: can we power the future without sacrificing our food supply? Prime farmland, ideal for both crops and solar, is under growing pressure as farmers like Brian Reeves warn that leasing the best land could hurt long-term food production. While Cornell’s survey shows farmers are getting more offers, they’re also more hesitant to sign—weighing the long-term costs. In response, New York is doubling down on farmland protection, preserving over 138,000 acres and insisting solar projects only happen on land willingly leased, trying to strike a balance between clean energy and the farm’s future. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b7b43d6ff8982ce4