From Transport Evolved.
Solar panels destroying farms? The U.S. President and members of his cabinet say so. The peer-reviewed science says otherwise — and we’ve got the receipts.
We’re back with another FUD-busting episode, and this time it’s something near and dear to Nikki’s heart. From claims that renewable energy can’t coexist with farming, to the idea that solar panels monopolize prime agricultural land, we dig into the actual evidence — and show this narrative for what it is: a malicious attempt to stop farmers, rural communities, and working families from gaining the energy independence that could save the family farm.
*⏱️ Chapter Breakdown:*
00:00 – Introduction
03:34 – Nikki does have some skin in the game
06:17 – The President hates wind turbines
07:49 – It’s not just wind…
09:16 – Meet Agrivoltaics
11:25 – A personal example of solar panel improvements
12:41 – Modern solar panels are better
14:32 – Most people don’t understand how plants grow…
16:21 – Solar panels are good for crops – and the science backs it up
17:53 – There are some crops that don’t do so well… but…
20:32 – Animals
26:43 – Farming isn’t profitable these days…
29:09 – Edge cases – Bifacial solar
32:54 – Financial pressures are real – and global
35:14 – The dangers of private equity and investors
36:12 – How solar leases work
39:04 – Different programs around the world
41:20 – Community benefits
44:20 – Nikki defends the King, surprisingly
46:04 – The claim that solar panels destroys farms is patently false
49:25 – Closing thoughts
*📊 Sources and Further Reading:*
Farming Crops With Solar:
-ISE Fraunhofer Study on crop yield changes with solar panels – https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/press-releases/2019/agrophotovoltaics-hight-harvesting-yield-in-hot-summer-of-2018.html
-Agrivoltaics provide mutual benefits across the food–energy–water nexus in drylands – https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0364-5
-Climate-driven divergence in biophysical and economic impacts of agrivoltaics – https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2514380123
-Vertical agrivoltaics in a temperate climate: Exploring technical, agricultural, meteorological, and social dimensions – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427125001664
Farming Animals With Solar
-Sheep grazing as sustainable vegetation management for solar energy production in the northeastern USA – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1625483/full
-Combining solar panels and lamb grazing increases land productivity, study finds – https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210429123402.htm
-Agrivoltaics With Sheep & Solar Benefit All — Especially The Sheep! – https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/25/agrivoltaics-with-sheep-solar-benefit-all-especially-the-sheep/
-An agrivoltaic approach provides an array of benefits – https://system.umn.edu/healthier/agrivoltaic-approach-provides-array-benefits
Solar tracking vs static
– A Review and Comparative Analysis of Solar Tracking Systems – https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2553
Solar benefits for farmers:
– Agrivoltaics: Solar on Farms is a Promising Option for Farmers – https://www.ssii.org/agrivoltaics-a-promising-option-for-farmers-and-farmland/
U.S. Politics:
– Secretary Rollings Blocks solar panels –
https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/19/secretary-rollins-blocks-taxpayer-dollars-solar-panels-prime-farmland
– Fallout of solar policy change for farmers – https://grist.org/food-and-agriculture/american-farmers-bet-on-solar-then-trump-changed-the-rules
– Trump pays companies to stop wind, pursue fossil fuels – https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5851702-trump-offshore-wind-lng-fossil-fuels
– John Oliver – Last Week Tonight – Corn – youtube.com/watch?v=MI78WOW_u-Q
Additional Links:
– King Charles III visits Harlem Grown – https://time.com/article/2026/04/30/king-charles-harlem-grown-new-york
– Harlem Grown community Farm- https://harlemgrown.org
– Deflock Me – https://deflock.me
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*👥 Today’s Sponsors*
🌱 Electric Vehicle Association – https://www.myeva.org
⚡ EnergySage – https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-101290941-16952262
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*🎙️ Credits:*
Host, Script, Editor: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Color: Vi Horton
Art & Animation : Erin Carlie
Producer: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Music: via Artlist.io
