My name is George Draper. My wife and I own a 38-acre tract of land in Anson County, NC, that we have leased to Strata Clean Energy for a solar farm since 2015.
About 10 years ago, I learned about U.S.-based Strata Solar and the concept of landowners leasing tracts for solar farms. I reached out to see if a solar farm might work on our property — luckily, it did.
Our land became home to the first solar farm in Anson County. We are able to have a reliable source of income from leasing the land to a solar company. Not only has hosting a solar farm brought in money for my family, but it has benefitted Anson County, which has seen a boost in property taxes that help pay for county services like water, schools, and first responders.
That’s why I was disturbed to see House Bill 729, also known as the “Farmland Protection Act,” introduced in the NC House of Representatives on April 2. Despite the bill’s name, the legislation aims to infringe on the private property rights of North Carolina landowners and farmers, such as myself, who have decided to lease part of their land for solar projects.
My wife and I are both retired and rely on the income we receive from our lease with Strata Solar. This bill could have a detrimental effect on farmers and landowners across North Carolina. HB729 would increase North Carolina’s tax rate on solar equipment by 500%, which would lead to a decline in solar energy projects resulting in less economic development and investments, mostly in rural counties like Anson County. There would be less incentive for solar energy companies to invest in solar farms in North Carolina costing jobs, reducing tax revenues to local counties and eliminating a significant source of income to farmers and property owners.
Solar farms are good for North Carolina. They provide clean and inexpensive energy to utility companies. They offer an alternative to building single source power plants. Solar farms generate greater tax revenues for the county without additional infrastructure or governmental services. Solar is a perfect fit for farmers who have unimproved or unused land by providing an alternative source of income. And, in my experience, they are great tenants.
This legislation is an affront to landowners across North Carolina. This bill is moving the goalposts in the middle of the game. The 80% property tax abatement was put in place by bipartisan agreement years ago, and that is what the solar companies have built into their lease agreements with farmers and landowners. These leases are for 20-30 years. This bill would be very unfair to the solar companies, property owners and local counties. Keeping the existing 80% exclusion in place will allow solar companies to expand in North Carolina benefiting farmers, landowners and county governments alike.
Please reach out to your North Carolina House Representative and members of the House Agriculture and Environment Committee today to ask them to vote NO on House Bill 729.