As lifelong residents of Louisiana, we have grown up in a world that cherished our rich landscapes, sugarcane fields, and farmlands. An irreplaceable part of our lives which, however, recently has been under threat. Industrial-scale solar panel projects have begun to invade our residential and agriculturally rich environments, disrupting our serene culture, wildlife, and food production. 

Let's not ruin our land that is designated agriculture and residential. Follow our land usage plans and maps.

Solar Farms do not produce many permanent jobs.  There will be more lost jobs than jobs gained.  It will have a trickle-down effect.  Solar energy requires use of the right infrastructure to get the power to the people.  Fixing our existing infrastructure should be addressed first and prioritized. There are areas of the state that our electric grid infrastructure needs to be addressed and are subpar.  We need more reliability of our existing infrastructure prioritized over alternate source of energy at this time.  If infrastructure is insufficient to get the energy to people of Louisiana, solar energy is merely wasted energy, especially if there are no battery backups to store the energy. 

In Louisiana, agriculture contributes about $11 billion to the state's economy every year, with sugarcane being its leading row crop and providing a livelihood for thousands (USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017 data). Allowing these lands to be overtaken by solar farms will not only result in the loss of an economically important industry, but it will also disrupt our local ecosystem irreversibly.

Residential areas have seen similar invasions. Land, once available for expanding our homes and communities, is being converted into industrial zones. Our concern extends beyond our homes - the extensive land use by solar panel projects would disrupt our state's wildlife, endangering their habitats, and potentially some species themselves.

Moreover, Louisiana, acclaimed as the Sportsman's Paradise, risks losing its name, and its profound cultural heritage tied to it, should these developments persist unchecked.

With this petition, we propose to forbid the use of residential and agricultural land for solar farm purposes in Louisiana. By doing so, we can protect our food industry, wildlife, and residential expansion, while maintaining the beauty and culture of our beloved State.

We urge local and state leaders to stand with us in this fight. Defend our lands. Promote responsibility and sustainability in planning and land use. Breathe life into smart developmental decisions that won't jeopardize our local culture, economy and the natural world we deeply cherish.

Please, sign this petition to protect and preserve the cultural and natural heritage of Louisiana.