What to do when a Solar Contractor Comes Knocking?

Solar leases are becoming increasingly relevant in agricultural planning. These high-stake, long-term contracts require a careful approach. This session will offer practical guidance for farmers considering solar leasing opportunities, including questions they should ask, factors to weigh, and best steps to take when approached by a solar contractor.

Speaker:

Dale Arnold

Director, Energy, Utility and Local Government Policy, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

Dale Arnold is Director of Energy, Utility and Local Government Policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF). For close to four decades he has managed education, outreach and technical assistance projects addressing energy generation, transmission and distribution issues. These efforts include power siting, pipelines and transmission lines, oil & gas exploration, coal and aggregate mining, carbon sequestration, wind & solar energy, biomass reactors, utility interconnection, regulations, tariffs and smart grid projects.

Ohio and the nation’s energy infrastructure are undergoing the greatest period of transformation since power generation, transmission and distribution projects were first established almost a century ago. Farmers, rural residents and local officials want to explore how these projects will impact their neighborhoods. He works with utilities, energy service providers, regulators, local governments and community organizations to best determine if and how projects should be considered in rural communities.

With many developers seeking open, rural areas to accommodate projects, farmers are on the “front lines” of energy development. Regulations govern basic power siting; however, leases, easements and surface agreements often engender greater impact between landowners and service providers. Dale helps farmers access the resources they need to interpret and negotiate on-site legal, environmental, socioeconomic and aesthetic issues in these contracts.