farms
Newsletter
Solar farms could rejuvenate coal country
Efforts are underway in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to transform reclaimed coal mines into solar farms, potentially revitalizing the local economy despite grid limitations and community attachment to fossil fuels.
In short:
- Rusty Bell and Justin Loyka are exploring solar development on reclaimed coal mines to sustain the economy in Gillette, Wyoming.
- Despite community loyalty to coal, the market's shift towards clean energy is driving this initiative.
- Grid space limitations and past funding rejections challenge the progress of solar projects in the region.
Key quote:
“There’s huge post-mining landscapes in the American West and across the country, and there are huge areas that we’re trying to protect.”
— Justin Loyka, an energy program director with the Nature Conservancy’s Wyoming chapter
Why this matters:
Transforming old coal mines into solar farms could provide a new revenue stream and job opportunities for Gillette, a town historically reliant on the coal industry. However, the transition isn't without its challenges. The existing grid infrastructure struggles to support the integration of new solar power, requiring significant upgrades and investments.
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Newsletter
Credit: Joshua Hoehne/Unsplash
Tech alone won’t fix farm food waste without labor reforms
Farmers are using technology to reduce food waste, but without addressing labor abuses and immigration policies, these efforts fall short.
In short:
- New technologies like composting systems, anaerobic digesters, and AI programs are helping reduce farm food waste.
- Labor abuses and immigration issues remain significant obstacles to effective food waste management.
- Solutions include stricter enforcement of labor laws and pathways to citizenship for farmworkers.
Key quote:
“We got hit when we lost the crop. Growers who had invested millions of dollars got nothing in return. And once there were no longer any Florida tomatoes on the market, prices soared to over $20 a box.”
— Industry representative
Why this matters:
Addressing food waste requires technological advancements and significant labor reforms to ensure fair treatment of farmworkers and a stable agricultural workforce. When workers are treated fairly and protected by robust legal frameworks, they are more likely to perform their jobs effectively, leading to less food waste and a more resilient agricultural sector.
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Image by Joseph Fulgham from Pixabay
A tangle of rules to protect America’s water is falling short
The Times asked all 50 states how they police the use of valuable groundwater. Their answers reveal why the country is draining and damaging its aquifers so rapidly.
Image by Zsuzsa Bóka from Pixabay
Energy firms, green groups and others reach deal on solar farms
The agreement could help speed up the development of large solar projects that are often bogged down by fights over land use and environmental concerns.
Newsletter
Unsplash
As California gets drier, solar panels could help farms save water
Agrivoltaics—or on-farm solar arrays—are still rare in California, but experts say the shade they provide could be a game-changer in a state where many farms are struggling to plan for a future with limited groundwater.
Pixabay
Tim Peake backs idea for solar farms in space as costs fall
Astronaut Maj Peake said the falling cost of launching heavy cargoes into orbit means that complex structures, such as solar power farms, could soon be launched into space, and had the potential to provide significant power.
Photo by Raphael Cruz on Unsplash
SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative aims to make investing in clean energy accessible to all
Solar farms are popping up across Wisconsin, and a new cooperative wants to make sure that everyone can benefit from the growing industry.
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