Publications: Renewable

Energy
Farmland Owner’s Guide to Solar Leasing
Peggy Hall, Director, Ohio State University Agricultural & Resource Law Program
Evin Bachelor, Senior Research Associate, Ohio State University Agricultural & Resource Law Program
Eric Romich, Associate Professor and Field Speciality, Ohio State University Extension

This guide intends to help farmland owners understand solar energy development and the solar
energy leasing process. While the guide includes specific information for Ohio, other information
about solar leasing in the guide is relevant for farmland owners in any state. This guide will
familiarize and educate readers on the language and terms they will encounter in a solar lease.
Further, the final chapter of the guide organizes solar leasing issues into a checklist tool that reviews
questions to ask and actions to take when thinking about solar energy development on the
farm.  Download this article. Posted 8/15/19

Understanding Solar Energy Agreements

Shannon Ferrell, Professor, Oklahoma State University

Landowners interested in having solar panels placed on their property encounter many legal issues
and concerns.  This handbook is a brief entry into the considerations that should be understood and
addressed before a contract is signed.  It includes sections explaining how solar projects work, how
to learn more about the interested developer, how agreements are structured, how agreements
might affect other land usage and your responsibilities as a landowner.  It further discusses the
typical length of contracts and payment structure, as well as the responsibilities of each party at the
end of the contract.  Finally, it gives tips for managing the cost of an attorney, as well as finding an
attorney knowledgeable in the area.  View this compilation. Posted 6/18/2019

  
Issue Brief: Renewable Fuel Standard:
Establishment & Current Events
Brigit Rollins, Research Fellow; National Agricultural Law Center
Elizabeth Rumley, Senior Staff Attorney; National Agricultural Law Center

This short informational piece provides essential background, current events, relevant legal issues,
and additional resources regarding the establishment of the Renewable Fuel Standard, along with
current events and controversies.  Download this article. Posted 10/8/18 

Wind Energy Leasing Handbook —

Workbook
Shannon Ferrell Oklahoma State University and

Rusty W. Rumley Staff Attorney National Agricultural Law Center

This handbook was written in conjunction with four workshops held in Oklahoma and Arkansas on
legal risks associated with entering into a wind energy leasing contracts and how best to manage the
opportunities and issues that may arise during the process. The book consists of four chapters;
Understanding the Electrical Power Industry, Understanding the Wind Power Industry,
Understanding Wind Energy Agreements, and Impacts of Wind Leasing Projects. This book was
written by Dr. Shannon Ferrell and Steve Stadler from Oklahoma State University, and Rusty Rumley
and Charles Cunningham from the National Agricultural Law Center.     Download this
article. Posted November 30, 2012.

States’ Biofuels Statutory Citations

Shannon Mirus Staff Attorney  and
Paul Goeringer Research Associate National Agricultural Law Center

Each state in the United States has enacted statutes relating to biofuels. These statutes vary from
tax incentives for biofuel production to labeling of biofuel for resale to the very definition of a
biofuel. This compilation of state statutory citations focuses predominantly on biofuels laws in effect
January 1, 1970 through December 31, 2007. In some instances, regulations have been included in
the compilation due to their significance. This compilation is intended to serve as a researcher-
friendly inventory of state laws by providing the formal title of relevant legislation, the standard legal
citation for each statute and a brief description of the law. Some statutes and regulation listed do
not specifically relate to biofuels but are included because of their complementary relationship to
the evolution of biofuels law in the state.        Download this article. Posted: April 28, 2009.

Biofuels Statutory Citations: United States

Federal Laws
Shannon Mirus Staff Attorney National Agricultural Law Center

This compilation of federal statutory citations focuses predominantly on biofuels laws in effect
January 1, 1970 through December 31, 2007.  In some instances, regulations have been included in
the compilation due to their significance.  This compilation is intended to serve as a researcher-
friendly inventory of federal laws by providing the formal title of relevant legislation, the standard
legal citation for each statute and a brief description of the law. Some statutes and regulations
listed, such as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, do not specifically relate to biofuels but
are included because of their complementary relationship to the evolution of biofuels law in the
U.S.        Download this article. Posted: April 28, 2009.

The Renewable Fuels Standard Provisions

Under the Clean Air Act: Overview and
Recent Developments
Eric Foy Research Associate National Agricultural Law Center

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA), as amended by Section 1501 of the Energy Policy Act of
2005, Congress required the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations
implementing a renewable fuels program.  These regulations are commonly referred to as the
Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS).  The RFS outline the total volume of renewable fuel that must be
blended each year as part of the domestic fuel supply.  In addition, EPA allows states to petition for
waiver of the RFS in the event of severe economic or environmental harm, or inadequate domestic
supply of renewable fuel.   This article discusses the RFS and addresses the recent petition for
waiver of the RFS submitted by the state of Texas.       Download this article. Posted: July 8, 2008.