Landowners, Ranchers & Farmers Explore Opportunities for Responsible Energy Development

On March 24, 2025, PowerHouse Texas hosted our first Landowner & Farmer Energy Day, bringing together farmers, ranchers, landowners and conservation groups to discuss the synergies of pairing renewable energy with agriculture. The event underscored the role that these stakeholders can play in advancing responsible energy initiatives for rural communities.

The day included direct engagement with legislators, including Chairman Rafael Anchía, Representative Erin Zwiener, and the offices of Senator Nathan Johnson, Dean Senator Judith Zaffirini and Representative Giovanni Capriglione. The event showcased attendees’ personal experiences with renewable energy projects and the meaningful impact of promoting dual-use projects that benefit both ranchers and agricultural producers as well as the environment. 

The following takeaways and considerations are from the attendees and their discussions. PowerHouse Texas' role is to promote engagement and discussion on critical issues. These insights do not originate from PowerHouse Texas.

Key Takeaways:

• Dual-Use Renewable Energy Supports Farming & Ranching
  Renewable energy projects are integrating with farming and ranching, creating new income streams. Agrivoltaics and solar sheep grazing help maintain agricultural productivity while producing energy. Supporting longer-term research on how agrivoltaics can co-exist well with ranching (and its long term benefits), as well as education and training to ranchers and farmers can drive broader adoption.
  

• Policy Needs to Reflect On-The-Ground Realities
  Current legislation fails to address the realities of farmers, ranchers, and landowners. 

  Restrictive siting parameters and set back requirements limit the ability to build projects on their land. Policy efforts should reflect rural interests while also encouraging responsible, clean energy development.
  

• Education Can Counter Renewables’ Misinformation
  Misinformation about renewable energy is widespread, especially among the older generation of ranchers and farmers. Outreach initiatives and training programs can help these groups make informed decisions.

Considerations for Energy Projects:

• Promoting Sustainable Land Practices will Ensure Environmentally-Sound Projects are Developed: Encouraging solutions like grass seeding for solar projects to prevent soil erosion and other regenerative practices will ensure land is ecologically preserved post-decommissioning. 
  

• Prevent Predatory Practices in Project Development: Advocate for a standardized industry accreditation program to stop predatory development and encourage sustainable project development. 
  

• Provide Resources for Landowners, Ranchers & Farmers: Developing a comprehensive guide to navigating the renewable energy project development process would help to ensure better project negotiations and terms for landowners, ranchers and farmers. It would also pave the way for implementing regenerative practices in contracts and ensuring developers leave the land arable post-decommissioning. 

The discussions at this event highlight the growing role of renewable energy in supporting rural economies and sustainable agriculture. By fostering collaboration, promoting responsible practices, and supporting educational initiatives, renewable energy can serve as a lasting benefit for both farmers and the environment.

For more information, as well as details on how you can fund or sponsor programs like these, please contact Nisha Ramesh, Development Manager, at nisha@powerhousetexas.org.