CHICAGO and WASHINGTON / PRNewswire / — Reactivate, an Invenergy company, American Farmland Trust (AFT), and Edelen Renewables Community Solar are proud to announce their newly formed partnership, Farmers Powering Communities (FPC), to bring community-scale solar projects to American farmers and rural communities. FPC’s mission is to connect those working to feed the planet with those powering America, ensuring solar development is deployed to maximize benefits for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Led by three organizations that approach clean energy from distinct angles, FPC aims to deliver tangible benefits to Americans, their local communities, and their land by:
- Protecting farmland and farm families by assessing the land productivity, versatility, and resiliency (PVR), while identifying built environment and marginal lands for solar siting
- Advancing agrivoltaics, demonstrating how agricultural production and clean energy development can be intentionally and successfully integrated
- Delivering locally generated, accessible energy solutions that provide direct savings to households, nonprofits, and small businesses — especially in rural and working-class communities facing high energy bills
- Creating American jobs and workforce training opportunities
- Generating tax revenue and driving economic growth for the local host communities
“This is a game-changing new partnership that centers the needs of agricultural communities in the development of renewable energy projects,” said Nathan L’Etoile, National Farm Viability Managing Director, American Farmland Trust. “Through the use of custom data and mapping tools developed by AFT, we’re going to ensure that all projects are aligned with our Smart Solar principles and deliver real, positive benefits for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.”
“We know many farmers have maintained their land for generations. As owners of our energy projects, we understand long-term stewardship and the importance of maintaining the agricultural viability of the land,” said Utopia Hill, CEO of Reactivate. “By joining forces with American Farmland Trust and Edelen Renewables Community Solar, we can accelerate the deployment of clean energy projects that help lower energy costs while delivering tangible economic benefits for farmers and rural communities.”
Nathan Cryder, Managing Partner of Edelen Renewables Community Solar, added: “Solar can and should be a win-win for rural America. FPC is about common sense problem-solving—helping farmers stay on their land, reducing energy costs for families, and making sure the clean energy truly lifts the communities that need it most.”
Reactivate was chosen as FPC’s exclusive developer for its proven track record as a lifecycle partner, delivering community-focused clean energy solutions, backed by a seasoned team with extensive experience in project execution.
This new partnership builds on AFT’s growing national Smart Solar℠ network and will initially focus on regions where farmland preservation and clean energy demand are both urgent priorities.
The partners expect to announce their first projects later this year.
For more information, please visit www.fpc.community and follow FPC’s LinkedIn for future updates.
Tagged with farmland, rural, solar