Private property rights are threatened by bans on renewable energy
"As a Hoosier farmer, I should be able to do what I want with my land”
- Tom McKinney, Tipton County Farmer
Farmer Kenny Becker on people telling him that he can’t use his land for solar:
“I bought that ground. I paid for it. I paid the property tax the last 15 years, and I paid the liability insurance. So how can you claim it to be our farm ground? It's not yours.”
Vast majority of Hoosiers agree that farmers should control their own farmland
Wind and solar leases are voluntary.
The land is not sold to renewable energy developers
After the lease expires the land can be returned to crop farming if the landowner wishes
County governments undermine personal property rights when they ban renewable development outright or when they impose overly-strict requirements on development which make a county unsuitable for renewable energy. Counties that do so strip farmers of options to keep their land and farms viable.
Hoosier Farmers Speak Out
They’ve decided to lease part of their land to renewables, which is their right as private property owners.
Land Use Benefits
Small fraction of land actually used
Diversification of land and farms
Land set-aside similar to CRP
Minimal disruption of soils
Wildlife impacts minimal
Land can return to agriculture at end of project