Most people don’t think of agriculture when they hear the term “solar farm” or “wind farm.” In fact, many fear that renewable energy installations are eating up prime farmland and threatening natural areas. But what if it weren’t an either-or proposition? What if wind and solar could go hand-in-hand with environmentally sustainable farming?

In Agri-Energy, Pierce shows how this growing trend not only creates much-needed space for energy production but is an economic lifeline for countless farmers, and provides surprising benefits for livestock, the surrounding ecosystem, and struggling rural communities. If done right, it’s a win-win-win for people, power, and the planet.

Pierce gives farmers, developers, environmental activists, and concerned community members the information they need to successfully pair renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. The book addresses legitimate (and manufactured) qualms about the impact of renewable energy production on the natural landscape while illustrating various models of agri-energy. Pierce draws on the first-hand experience of farmers with different acreages, climates, and crops, and in different stages of their careers. She also gets into the weeds about specific approaches that can maximize benefits for all those involved.

Finally, Pierce explores the future of agri-energy, examining the pitfalls and policies that will determine whether this novel union of food and power will continue to grow. The result is a concise but complete primer on a little-understood phenomenon—one with enormous implications for economic, food, and energy security.
 

Rebekah Pierce is a freelance writer in upstate New York. She and her husband own J&R Pierce Family Farm, which specializes in regenerative agriculture and solar grazing. They raise sheep, cattle, pigs, chickens, and turkeys.