Farmers opt for solar power as new cash cow

In Augusta County, Virginia, some of farmer Quillen's neighbors are also unhappy about the proposed project.

"Most of the neighbors are in favor of it," Quillen said. "But some are concerned that solar panels could be toxic or polluting. But perhaps they just don't want to see them. I completely disagree."

Stan Sikorski, one of his neighbors, complained that he would be able to see the panels from his home, which would disrupt his view.

Quillen said he has taken this into consideration and will provide landscaping near the solar panels.

In Currituck County, North Carolina, complaints from locals about the dilapidated state of two solar projects on 915 hectares of farmland led county commissioners to ban new solar projects in 2017.

But Gray, from the Illinois Solar Energy Association, said most solar energy companies have promised to restore the land to its original state after the project is completed.

"Because of the strong interest in solar from farmers and landowners, the Illinois Solar Energy Association worked with the Illinois Farm Bureau to create legislation that protects farmers' interests and ensures that farmland will be returned to its prior use at the end of a solar project," he said.

Kirschen, at the University of Washington, warns that solar energy from farms may not be able to power towns and cities without some issues being addressed.

"The unfortunate fact about solar energy is that its density is relatively low. To power a large city, you will therefore require quite a large area of land devoted to solar parks, " he said.

"Since there are many other demands for land, areas devoted to solar parks may have to be located in remote, sparsely populated places where land is not well-suited for agriculture. This will require the construction of large transmission lines to carry the power generated by these solar parks to cities and other locations where there is a large demand for electricity.

"We also have to take into account that solar parks do not produce at night, and produce much less when it is cloudy. Solar energy will then need to be supplemented by energy storage or other forms of producing electrical energy."

Gray added that the advantages of solar power far outweigh the disadvantages.

"Solar energy creates construction and other jobs, property tax revenue to fund local schools and services, and income for landowners. Community solar projects in Illinois will allow consumers to purchase locally produced clean energy and lower their electricity bills. Solar power is an important way to reduce pollution from the energy sector and fight climate change," he said.