Supporting Agricultural Landowners to Make Decisions about Solar Development: Training for Service Providers

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Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: decision support system
• Farm Business Management: risk management

The proposed project will build on American Farmland Trust’s Smart Solar℠ work by adapting an existing Pacific Northwest solar leasing guidebook for farm and ranchland owners in California, and by developing and offering a train-the-trainer program for agricultural service providers in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, to prepare them to help agricultural producers and landowners make informed decisions about renewable solar energy development and land leasing. By equipping agricultural service providers with resources and information to help farmers and ranchers understand risks and challenges associated with solar energy infrastructure development, potential financial benefits, and opportunities with agrivoltaics, the proposed project will address Western SARE goals related to good stewardship,
environmental implications, quality of life, and diversification. As a result of this project, producers and agricultural
landowners throughout California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho will have increased access to resources and technical assistance to help them make informed decisions about solar energy development on their land. A minimum of 50 agricultural technical service providers from CDs, NRCS, extension offices, NGOs, and other entities will be trained to provide technical assistance to producers and landowners on solar development and the California Solar Leasing Guide, project training curriculum, and associated materials will be made publicly available for free for others to likewise use on AFT’s Farmland Information Center (FIC) clearinghouse website. AFT also will set up an online network for trainees to access resources, troubleshoot challenges, and share best lessons learned that will extend beyond the life of this grant. During the project, AFT will host quarterly check-in calls for the cohort, and be available to provide support to trainees post-training as needed.

The proposed project's objectives are as follows: 

1. Educate and empower 50 agricultural service providers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California to inform agricultural producers and landowners, and other agricultural professionals, on the threats and opportunities of renewable solar energy development on agricultural land.
2. Increase at least 200 Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California agricultural landowners' knowledge and ability to
   protect the long-term viability of their farmland through access to clear, concise, and regionally specific solar leasing
   information.