• bhmnscmm@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    That’s a really interesting article. I didn’t know there were so many benefits to solar panels over crops.

    However, I don’t see how growing crops under panels could become widespread.

    National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimate that if just 1 million acres of farmland was covered in solar panels, the nation would meet its renewable energy goals.

    For reference, Iowa alone has over 35 million acres of farmland. Solar panels are almost too efficient to cover a meaningful amount of farmland.

    • barsoap@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      Iowa, eh. You could plant some trees as windbreak to stop erosion. Wide enough apart to still drive harvesters through, dense enough to provide shade.