Hi friend,

Between increasingly unpredictable weather events affecting crop production and rising input costs, American farmers face many challenges. Fortunately, renewable energy is a huge opportunity. Think: Farmers leasing their land for energy infrastructure that could power thousands of homes.

Yet despite the affordability and strong public support for these projects, local red tape and misinformation are preventing them from getting off the ground. As a result, clean energy projects are being blocked faster than they’re being built.

Not only is this a climate issue, but also a property rights issue.

Ultimately, rural landowners want the freedom to decide what’s best for their property, the ability to support their families, and the opportunity to pass on their way of life to future generations. And leasing their land for clean energy infrastructure helps make all of that possible—like a way to add another “crop” that generates revenue and is temporary, especially if some of their land is no longer well-suited for farming in the short term.

This year, Evergreen will be advocating for state-level policies that affirm rural landowners’ right to lease their land for clean energy, ensure that permitting processes don’t block responsible development, and keep communities involved without unnecessary red tape. Can we count on you to be by our side in this fight?

Across the country, farmers are navigating shifting economic pressures—from declining crop commodity prices and rising operating costs to labor shortages and increasingly unpredictable weather conditions that are making growing more challenging. In response, many are exploring new, voluntary revenue streams like leasing land for solar infrastructure that help keep their land family-owned and their operations profitable.

But too often, that opportunity is blocked by misinformation, outdated zoning rules, and politically motivated restrictions. In many cases, farmers and rural landowners are being told what they can’t do with their own land, even when proposed projects meet all environmental and safety standards.

We believe that empowering property owners to make decisions about their land without unnecessary government interference is key to moving forward. And the way to do that is by advocating for clear, transparent siting and permitting reforms that honor community input while still supporting—rather than hindering—landowners’ rights. Do you agree?

Thanks for all that you do,

P.S. Evergreen just published a suite of resources and key findings on the clean energy siting process. Check them out!