A new bill introduced in Michigan would allow farmers enrolled in the state's farmland preservation program to rent their land to commercial solar operations. The legislation, Senate Bill 277, would temporarily pause tax incentives for farmers in the PA 116 program and allow land to be used for solar generation.
The proposed bill aims to promote the diversification of clean energy creation while protecting farmland for future generations. Supporters of the bill argue that it can help farmers to generate additional income from unprofitable land while also actively farming other portions.
Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet, the bill's sponsor, states that the legislation would ensure that farmers are never forced to choose between preserving farmland and generating income from a temporary solar farm. The proposed bill would also allow for the reversion of land back to farming space once the solar farm is dismantled, reinstating tax incentives for farmers in the PA 116 program.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development currently allows enrolled land to use solar panels conditionally. The proposed bill is part of a larger package of clean energy bills recently introduced by Michigan Democrats as part of their MI Clean Energy Future Plan.
Categories: Michigan, Business, Energy, Government & Policy