12 million hectares of U.S. land–about the size of New York state–are currently used to grow corn for ethanol. Converting a small portion to solar facilities could vastly increase energy production per hectare, and provide ecological benefits and financial resiliency for farmers. Putting solar facilities on just 3.2% of land currently used for corn-ethanol crops would increase production of utility-scale solar energy from 3.9% to 13%. Adding solar facilities with features that boost biodiversity, such as perennial plants, could provide filtration of runoff and habitats for pollinators and wildlife.
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/04/trading-some-corn-ethanol-land-solar-offers-tremendous-opportuni