How Much Land Does Solar Really Use?

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Solar farms under development use less than 1% of total farmland -

far less than solar opponents would have you believe. Here are some facts that put the amount of land use by solar farms in Linn County in perspective.

Area (in acres)

% of Linn County

Linn County

464,000

100%

Farmland [1]

324,507

69.94%

Corn Planted [2]

143,000

30.82%

Estimate Corn Planted for Ethanol

Estimated by using Iowa Corn Growers Association percentage of corn produced for Ethanol

81,510

17.57%

Duane Arnold I & II Total Project Area [4]

1,131

0.24%

Duane Arnold Solar I & II Fenced In Area [5]

1,071

0.23%

Duane Arnold Solar I & II Area Under Panels [6]

333

0.07%

Coggon Solar Total project Area [7]

750

0.16%

Coggon Solar Fenced In Area [8]

640

0.14%

Coggon Solar Area Under Panels

Estimated using panel dimensions (28.197 square feet) multiplied by number of panels (325,000)

211

0.06%

Combined Project Area

1,881

0.41%

Combined Fenced in Area

1,711

0.36%

Total Area Under Solar Panels

544

0.12%

Not only is the land being used minimal, but it can also be returned to cropland when the solar farm is decommissioned and the panels and equipment are removed by the solar company, as required by Linn County code.

Meanwhile the solar farm is generating benefits to the farmer, to Linn County through property tax payments and millions in economic development payments. And of course – clean, affordable renewable electricity.

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