Illinois farmers try solar-panel farming; revenues steadier

Randy DeBaillie checks on the solar panels at his Orion, Ill., farm. (Washington Post photo by Youngrae Kim)

"Across the flatlands of Illinois, a new crop is rising among the traditional waves of grain," Genevieve Bookwalter reports for The Washington Post. "Hundreds have applied to host acres of solar panels on their property, a move encouraged by a state law requiring that renewable resources provide 25 percent of Illinois power by 2025."

Some object to the move because it takes fertile soil out of production, but selling electricity may be a steady alternate source of income for farmers hurting from the trade war with China. "Prices last year for the state’s most prominent crops were far below original projections, with University of Illinois data showing corn 7 percent lower and soybeans 15 percent lower," Bookwalter reports. Other farmers told Bookwalter they liked the idea of doing their part to fight climate change.

The project offers three sizes of solar-panel projects. The smallest are appropriate for individual homes or small businesses, the medium-sized take up about 15 acres and can power up to 2,000 homes, and the largest can cover thousands of acres and produce almost as much electricity as a power plant, Bookwalter reports.

"Proposals for midsize projects have become so popular that Illinois is hosting a lottery to determine who will be awarded contracts to sell solar electricity to large power companies in the state, which then delivers it to subscribers," Bookwalter reports. "The state anticipates about 1,000 applications, with many of the proposed projects located on farmland, officials said. About 100 agreements will be issued starting in March."