Researchers from the USDA studied renewable energy projects built in rural areas to understand their impact on agricultural production. The research compared land three years before construction and the same land three years after construction. The team found that most of the land used for the projects remained in agricultural production.

More than 80% of the land surrounding solar fields was retained for crop and pastureland. The share was even higher for wind turbine projects.

Solar installations tend to take up larger tracts of land, especially compared to wind turbines. They can take up to 10 times the amount of land to produce the same amount of energy as wind turbines can.

Both types of renewable energy projects can create benefits (rental revenue and increased tax revenue) and challenges (changing landscapes, noise and potential property value implications) for local communities.

Read more about the study here.