Dawson Singletary: Solar farm a life-saver

Regarding Ned Barnett’s Oct. 11 column “N.C. lets sun set on solar tax credit”: The unexpected addition of solar to our family farm has been a lifesaver to our family. We have seen many changes over the years including the evaporation of our tobacco crops. The most significant change has not been peanuts, cotton or pigs, but solar.

Five years ago, news about my health required me to find retirement income for my wife. A business connection suggested solar. We were skeptical. Turns out, it could give us additional revenue that we couldn’t get from any other agriculture sources. Most important, the land would go back to our nine grandchildren (soon to be 10) at the end of the lease.

After speaking with our neighbors and family, we chose to use 34 acres of our farmland for a solar farm, producing enough power for 800 homes. We kept more than 200 acres as traditional farmland.

Our solar farm does not produce any noise or pollution, and our property value has not decreased. So far, the additional income from our solar farm has been used for medical bills, but my health has improved. And solar helps us provide for our family and keep our land where it belongs – in our family.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Dawson Singletary: Solar farm a life-saver."