A push for solar power is fueling fears of farmland loss in upstate New York, according to Spectrum News and Capital Tonight.
Republican Assemblymember Steve Hawley wants Gov. Hochul to halt two solar projects in Genesee County that would wipe out 6,000 acres of farmland. He says New York’s climate plan is “destroying” the state’s best agricultural land.
A 2024 state report backs the concern: New York lost 14% of its farms over a decade. But with tough economics, some farmers are turning to solar for income. Hawley argues the trade-off threatens food security—warning, “no farms, no food.”
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