Letter to the Editor: Clean energy offers a lifeline to farmers

Dear editor,

In “Eminent domain, transmission lines, renewable energy threaten landowner property,” published in the March 3 edition of Springfield Business Journal, the Farm Bureau argues the rights of farmers are coming under pressure from wind and solar projects. The author’s solution to this “threat” is for the Missouri Legislature to pass laws preventing the construction of energy generation projects using coercive force to condemn property, otherwise known as eminent domain.

However, Mr. Kayden Guymon offers no examples of when wind and solar projects have ever used eminent domain to take over someone’s property in Missouri, or anywhere, for that matter. He mentions a “loophole” in the law but never cites what this loophole may be. In fact, there’s already a law that defines solar as a property right but specifically excludes the use of eminent domain. (It’s Section 442.012 RSMo – you can look it up!)

Transmission lines often use eminent domain, as the opinion piece correctly notes, but power generation projects rely on an energy producer engaging with a willing landowner to sell or rent land. No coercion has ever been used.

The proposed legislation exists merely to suggest that no landowner would ever willingly place solar or wind on their property. It exists to make clean power a villain.

The reality is different. Not only does the Missouri Constitution already protect a farmer’s right to produce energy on their property (a 2014 amendment supported by the Farm Bureau itself), but there are multiple benefits to Missouri farmers considering energy generation for their property. Coming from a cattle operation in Webster County, I can tell you the independent farm family is on life support. Rising prices, pressure from corporate farming interests, tariffs and trade wars – all of these things make it nearly impossible to earn a living off the land anymore.

Clean energy siting offers an alternative to traditional farming. Missouri landowners receive over $16 million annually in lease payments for renewable energy projects. In 2022 alone, local county governments and school districts received $20 million in local, state and property tax payments from such projects. Rural school districts are suffering from budget cuts, struggling to retain teachers and resorting to slashing school to four days a week; this potential funding is an important opportunity to ensure the livelihood of and an education for rural families. This is on top of the $5 billion in capital investments and 56,000 jobs created by clean energy projects in Missouri.

Utilities themselves point to wind and solar as the cheapest ways to produce power. Right now, Missouri imports most of its fuel sources (70% of our power still comes from out-of-state coal). This raises our energy costs and weakens Missouri’s energy security. Cheaper and more reliable power can be made on land here in Missouri.

The legislative solutions proposed by Mr. Guymon won’t change anything for Missourians as he seeks to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. What he does is raise questions about clean energy when the fact is no better drought-and-flood-proof cash crop exists.

—James Owen, Renew Missouri