Steve Cargil has farmed land in southwest Texas for decades, but severe storms and droughts made it difficult for his family to continue. Cargil decided to lease 600 acres of his farm to a solar company named OCI Energy. The lease pays him $200,000 a year, which allows him to keep running his farm and secure his retirement.
Texas, long known as the top oil-producing state in the US, has recently become the country's largest generator of solar electricity. As the state's population grows, the demand for power rises quickly. Solar energy projects are quick to connect to the independent Texas power grid, and technology costs have dropped significantly over the past 20 years. On hot afternoons, solar panels now supply about one-third of the electricity used across the state.
Solar developers need large, flat spaces, so they are offering farmers long-term leases that last 25 to 30 years. These contracts provide steady income to rural families. Industry leaders point out that solar farms use less than 0.15% of Texas land, helping farmers keep their property solvent while fuel and fertilizer prices increase.
However, the rapid growth of solar power has met some opposition in rural communities. In Franklin County, some residents worry about cut-down trees, water runoff, and safety risks from large battery storage units. Despite these local concerns, survey data shows that most voters support using all energy sources, including utility solar power, to keep electricity prices low.