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Protecting prime farmland from green energy

Minnesota Farm Bureau wants to make sure green energy projects don’t take out productive farmland.

President Dan Glessing says the organization supports solar and wind as alternate sources.

“However, we don’t want to see those solar panels placed on prime farmland. We do have a prime farmland exclusion here in the state of Minnesota and (Farm Bureau is) continuing to look forward on that.”

He tells Brownfield solar farms should be located strategically, like CRP.

“We want that on those acres that need that.”

Minnesota Farm Bureau named energy and resource preservation a priority during its annual meeting in late November.  The organization says its seeking further development of appropriately placed renewable fuel and additional alternative energy sources that do not compromise access to prime farmland.