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The May 2 LNP | LancasterOnline article “Solar vs. farmland: Lancaster County weighs sheep grazing as energy solution” reported on the West Lampeter Township zoning decision to block a 25-acre solar panel installation on sheep pasture. The act of grazing sheep under solar panels was determined to be a non-agricultural activity.
As a curious farmer, I have seen solar grazing operations in a variety of locations, including White Oak Pastures in Georgia and across the state line in Maryland. I would argue that solar grazing is one of the easiest environmental and economic win-wins for preserving farmland and producing energy.
Solar farms require mowing and maintenance to keep the grass down. Sheep require grass! And sheep also benefit from the shade of solar panels during hot months. Agrivoltaics, as this combination is called, isn’t opposed to farmland preservation; it supports it.
At a time when data centers will start taking over vast amounts of the county’s energy and farmland is under threat, why close off an avenue to locally grown energy, food and additional farm revenue to keep land from being developed?
If Lancaster County is to be resilient in the future, energy independence and food security will be critical to weathering the effects of climate change and world events, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and supply chain disruption. It seems clear to me that we can’t depend on global food and energy supplies, and that we should consider solutions closer to home. Why not achieve both?
Aidan Fife
Lancaster
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