Renewable Energy Leader Jeff Risely: Finding Compromise with Farmers and Neighbors

As renewable energy projects expand across rural America, many landowners are weighing the benefits of wind and solar leases against concerns from neighbors and local officials. For farmers looking for financial stability in a volatile agricultural economy, the conversation increasingly centers on how to find reasonable compromises that allow development while addressing community concerns.

That balancing act is at the heart of the work being done by the Renewable Energy Farmers of America, according to Executive Director Jeff Risley.

Risley grew up in western Kansas farming dryland acres where irrigation isn’t an option and crop choices must match the realities of the land. “It's wheat, definitely milo in certain circumstances,” Risley told American Farmland Owner from his office in Denver, Colorado. “We used to run a lot of cattle, more than I enjoyed,” Risley said. “But we don’t do that anymore.”

Jeff Risely bio:

• Renewable Energy Farmers of America – Executive Director

• Risley Ranch – CEO

• Saxum – Former Chief Growth Officer, Chief Strategy Officer

• Barlett & West – Former Business Development Leader

• Brightergy – Former Chief Marketing Officer

Renewable Energy Income for Farmers

That direct connection to agriculture shapes how Risley approaches the renewable energy debate. Unlike many advocates who come from outside the farm economy, he sees the issue through the lens of long-term farm viability.

“Mostly out of self-interest, right?” Risley said of his work with the organization. “Because we want what’s best for our farm and our operations, just like I want what’s best for our members’ farms and operations as well.”

He said his family has navigated the same decisions many landowners are currently facing—whether renewable projects make sense for their land and how those agreements might affect the future of the farm.

“We went through all the same conversations that we’re helping members go through as they’re evaluating these renewable energy opportunities,” he said.

That personal perspective also reflects the economic pressures many farmers are experiencing.

“I’ve seen what’s happened to family farms over my 58-year lifetime,” Risley said. “It’s crazy how different it is today than it was when I was growing up. And it’s not like it’s gotten any better.”

Renewable Energy Potential During Tough Farming Period

The past few years have been particularly challenging for producers.

“The last five years, maybe the last three years, have been really tough economically,” Risley said. “The stories from talking to our members, and even non-members, it’s tough out there.”

Because of that, he views renewable energy not as a replacement for farming, but as a complementary income stream.

“We’ve always said renewable energy doesn’t fit everywhere, all the time,” he explained. “There’s too many different operations, too many different land situations out there.”

But when the conditions are right, financial stability can be meaningful for landowners.

“It can absolutely be considered and should be,” Risley said. “Because that’s innovation money. That’s an opportunity for landowners to have this income stream that’s predictable and stabilizing…and something you can pass on to the next generations.”

Still, the growth of wind and solar projects has also sparked organized opposition in some rural areas, where residents raise concerns about visual impacts, land use, and infrastructure.

MidAmerican Energy to Change Lights on Wind Towers

In Iowa, MidAmerican Energy has worked to create more goodwill with neighbors concerned about the flashing lights on its wind turbines. The company is transitioning lights, so that they no longer flash and only activate when planes are nearby.

Risley said these types of solutions represent the kind of compromise that can ease tensions.

“That’s a great example of one of those things we’ll call common sense,” he said. “Our members and our board leadership are looking for objective standards. How can we make sure that reasonableness is put into either state policy or local policy?”

Across the country, policymakers are debating hundreds of bills related to renewable energy siting, permitting, and development. Some are designed to encourage projects, while others seek to restrict or halt them.

Risley points to stark contrasts among states. For example, in Colorado renewable development has moved forward aggressively, supported by statewide climate and energy goals.

“Colorado’s fairly progressive when it comes to renewable energy,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of wind in the eastern plains, and we’re seeing a lot more solar development happening.”

At the same time, he acknowledges that some counties still attempt to slow or stop projects through moratoriums or bans.

“There are some pockets in Colorado, just like every state, where counties are either putting in long-term moratoria or bans, which we’re not in favor of,” Risley said.

Instead of blanket restrictions, he believes communities should focus on practical solutions that address concerns while preserving opportunities for farmers.

“Let’s not put up artificial barriers to infrastructure that is beneficial not only to landowners but to communities as well,” Risley said. “These rural communities are suffering just like the landowners are.”

Renewable projects, he noted, often bring millions of dollars in local tax revenue and other community benefits.

For landowners evaluating whether to sign a lease, the debate ultimately comes down to balancing tradition with economic reality.

And as Risley sees it, finding reasonable compromises may be the key to ensuring both rural communities and family farms remain sustainable for generations to come.