Solar use soars by 30% on US farms in five years; wind power slows
According to the latest US Census of Agriculture, solar power is gaining popularity on American farms, with a 30% increase in photovoltaic installations.
In 2022, 116,758 farms had solar panels, up from 90,142 in 2017. However, the growth of wind turbine installations has slowed, rising only by 2.7% to 14,511 farms during the same period.
This modest increase in wind power contrasts with the significant 56% jump reported in the previous census covering the five years up to 2017.
Renewable energy benefits farms by improving sustainability, but installation costs can be high. Solar and wind energy are receiving support from President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which offers incentives.
Additionally, the inconsistent energy grids in the American countryside and farms offer many growth opportunities for these renewable sources.
In the census, the number of methane digesters used by dairy and other livestock operations to capture greenhouse gasses decreased to 680 farms in 2022 from 686 five years earlier.
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