The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will host a series of listening sessions this winter. The agencies invite perspectives on the impacts of the rapidly increasing levels of solar and wind energy facilities being sited on agricultural and forestry lands, and in rural communities.

USDA and DOE seek feedback directly from a diverse set of stakeholders about what the agencies can do through their leadership, program guidance, or research and information sharing to encourage positive clean energy siting outcomes for farmers, rural Americans, the renewable energy industry, and others.

Stakeholders must register to participate in public listening sessions that are available virtually by clicking on the selected date and time:

• Government permitting and policy representatives at state, county, and local levels on Jan. 12, 2024, at 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. ET Government Permitting and Policy Representatives, Register Here
• Agricultural producers on Jan. 16, 2024, at 10 – 11:30 a.m. ET. Agriculture Producers, Register Here
• All stakeholders and members of the public on Jan. 16, 2024, at 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. ET. All Stakeholders, Register Here
• Rural electric coops and clean energy developers on Jan. 17, 2024, at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET. Energy Organizations, Register Here

Stakeholders may submit written comments by Jan. 20, 2024, to CleanEnergySiting@USDA.gov. 

To learn more, read full Stakeholder Announcement.