Solar Farm Summit

Landowner FAQs

Can any landowner really attend the entire Solar Farm Summit for free just by registering their land as a potential project site? What’s the catch?

Yes, any public or private landowner can attend the Solar Farm Summit for free by registering their potential ground-mounted solar power project in the Site Combine to get it scored. There is no catch! Landowners are not required to sign anything, say anything or agree to anything and the Site Combine is for information purposes only. The rest of the conference is an opportunity to learn more about solar development, which includes landowner-specific sessions designed specifically to provide knowledge, resources and Q&A with leading experts in the public and private sector, including staff U.S. EPA. U.S. DOE and others.

Can landowners just show up to the Solar Summit and get in free?

No. You must enter your information into the Site Combine in advanced and receive confirmation in order to receive complementary registration to attend the 2024 Solar Farm Summit without exception.

Is this event for residential homeowners with potential solar projects?

No. This is not an event for residential solar projects, rather everything else!

What makes the best kind of land for a solar project?

Whether farm field, greenfield, brownfield, active facility, previously mined land or even Superfund site, all types of property are encouraged to participate in the Site Combine and their landowners attend the Solar Farm Summit to (1) learn about solar development first hand, and (2) see what the market might bear for a solar project on their land.

Does a solar farm destroy or damage farmland?

No. It is a common misconception that solar development is as intensive as previous land development modes, such as suburban development. But a solar farm requires one of the least intensive development footprints of any land development, and maintains environmental integrity and ecological function even without pro-habitat and/or pro-pollinator solar developments. Basically a “fancy” fallow use, most solar farms construct rows of post-hole fencing that is strung together and connected to the grid, leaving soil to breathe. Some solar farms use ballasted systems that do not penetrate the land, particularly on landfills.

Are my meals and drinks included with my free landowner ticket to the Solar Farm Summit?

Yes. There are no strings and you will not sign anything to participate.

What if I’m not sure I want to build a solar project on my property? Can I still attend?

Yes! Any landowner may enter their site and attend no matter how early-stage or conceptual a ground-mounted solar energy project might be. As a networking, information-gathering and market discovery exercise, the primary purpose of the Site Combine is to explore the potential of every potential project and put the attendee in a knowledge rich educational environment.

Is there a fee or percentage that will come out of my (future) project if I make a successful connection at the Solar Farm Summit?

No! This networking-only event is for informational purposes only! You are not required to sign any legal document or agree to any contract to participate in the Solar Farm Summit or Site Combine! We certainly hope you make the connection or find the spark that leads to ultimate solar success on your site, but the Solar Farm Summit is a purely catalytic conference for information and education purposes only.

Is the information I provide about my property shared?

Only if you opt it. Information you share with us about your property is shared with other conference attendees and throughout the wider Solar Farm Summit community.

If I have a solar RFP or RFQ, can the Solar Farm Summit include that with my information or help me distribute it?

Yes. If you are a community, city, company or private landowner curious about siting solar power on your property, then there's no better opportunity in 2024 to explore possibilities in the solar marketplace directly. And if you already have a solar RFP or RFQ, or are preparing one, then this is the place to put your RFP/Q in front of an engaged solar development audience, and potentially get face-to-face market feedback and recommendations from multiple conference participants.

Can I send my advisor, attorney or other professional to attend the Solar Farm Summit in my stead?

Yes. A landowner entering a site into the Site Combine may designate anyone to attend the Solar Farm Summit on their behalf. Please notify us in advance and we would be more than happy to accommodate your designee.

What if I cannot physically attend the Solar Farm Summit, but I still want to share my property information?

Landowners who cannot attend may still share their property information and indicate that they will not be physically present, or kindly decline our invitation to complete a landowner registration when we follow up.

Can I get help with solar or land use questions in advance?

Yes, contact us with your questions! Though the Solar Farm Summit is merely a forum and not a consultant or advisor in any capacity, we can connect you U.S. EPA, U.S. DOE staff and private sector professionals who may be able to help you!

What is the potential revenue of a solar development on my property?

The precise answer will depend on the location, size and many project-specifics, such as the cost of interconnection to the grid, but landowners in the Midwest region can expect to lease their property across the region from anywhere between $250 to 2000 per acre.

What is the potential public tax revenue from a large scale solar farm in my community?

Large scale solar developments can generate millions of dollars in local tax revenue. In some early-adopting rural counties, a new utility-scale solar farm can become the biggest taxpayer in the county on Day 1.

How many tickets are available?

Free landowner tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Advanced registration is required. Free tickets will not be available at the door.

What if I need an extra ticket?

Free landowner tickets are limited to 1 per landowner and available on a first-come, first-served basis, however the Solar Farm Summit will make a limited number of exceptions for additional landowner ticket requests based on need.

Archived Agrivoltaics Sessions

Agrivoltaics 100

How can solar farms combine with sustainable agriculture to host herds of sheep and improve soil health? What are agricultural, economic, and environmental impacts of co-locating agricultural enterprises such as commercial beekeeping and sheep grazing on photovoltaic sites? Gain insights to these questions with powerful data, analysis and expert commentary from some of brightest minds in the agrivoltaics space.

Pollinators 101: Pro-Pollinator Purpose & Policy

Virginia's Pollinator-Smart innovative program is designed to provide incentives and tools for the solar industry to adopt a native plant strategy to meet soil and water control regulations, community needs, and the needs of the environment. See why Virginia is leaning into pollinator-friendly habitat policy and learn the criteria necessary to meet Virginia’s Pollinator-Smart certification program.

Pollinators 200: Nuts & Bolts for Nurturing Healthy Pollinator Habitats

Hear how mixes of native plants can enable a solar farm to evolve into a multipurpose, high-functioning ecosystem that can support pollinator species, birds, and other wildlife, while enhancing facility economic efficiencies and physical performance of the power system itself (by keeping panels from overheating).

Solar Stormwater 300: Vegetative Establishment & Erosion Control

Preparing to manage storm water is a critical path component to any ground-mounted solar farm and the subject of increasing regulatory and policy focus. Explore the essential topic of the greenfield construction elements fundamental to any ground-mounted solar power project, and learn how a penny of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure when it comes to preventing costly solar farm stormwater failures.

Agrivoltaics 304: Applied Best Practices to Maximize Ecological Values with Beneficial Vegetation

Applying native seed mixes goes beyond beautifying solar sites, but also adding (or returning) naturally functioning habitat with high ecological value. Once a native meadow is established, these high-function habitats conserve essential areas for pollinators, birds, and other small wildlife while simultaneously improving the soil beneath, reducing runoff, and creating attractive aesthetics on the site.

Master Class: Virginia Must Rebuild with Beneficial Vegetation for Better Soil Erosion & Stormwater Control

Robin Ernst, President of Monarch Vegetation Services, President of Meadville Land Service, and Partner of Ernst Seed delivers powerful remarks on the environmental challenge and opportunity of ground-mounted solar projects on farmland and brownfield alike. The practical realities of building beneficial habitats for bees and butterflies is serious work, and in these clarion remarks Ms. Ernst goes beyond identifying the project bottleneck emerging in Virginia... and slowing down projects... but she also makes a clear, bold call to action for every professional in the field(s), whether greenfield, brownfield or brightfield, for higher and better forms of solar farm harnessing Mother Nature's true potential.