04/12/2026
How do Solar facilities affect property values?
First, I will state that these views are based only on facts, education and research in the property assessment industry. It does not necessarily reflect on my personal views or apprehensions regarding nearby solar facilities. As an Elected official, the Assessor’s office would do a disservice to provide anything other than well-researched and verifiable facts to their constituents. I welcome others sharing factual data and research.
This information is based upon research up until this point. More data will become available over time. These findings come from universities, national labs, and state level research groups—not from developers.
Across the country, including in rural townships very similar to Green Garden Township, studies consistently show that commercial solar facilities do not cause widespread drops in property values.
What we know from the Research
Large analyses, some tracking millions of home sales, find the same pattern:
• Most homes near solar facilities see no measurable change in value.
• When a decrease does occur, it is typically small (1-3%) and usually limited to homes very close to the project, generally within one mile.
• Beyond that distance, the effect disappears.
What actually drives Property Value Impacts
The research is clear that visibility, not the presence of solar itself, is the biggest factor.
• Homes that can see the panels may experience small, temporary dips.
• Homes that are screened by trees, berms, or distance typically show no impact at all.
• Communities that require vegetative buffers, setbacks, and good site design see the most stable outcomes.
In other words: how a project is built matters more than whether it is built.
Why Green Garden Township is Uniquely Positioned
Green Garden’s landscape naturally reduces the risk of negative impacts:
• We have large lots and wide spacing between homes.
• Much of our land is agricultural, where utility uses are less visually disruptive.
• We have natural vegetation that can be used for screening.
• Our housing market is driven by rural lifestyle demand, which has remained strong.
In communities with these same characteristics, solar projects have not caused broad property value declines.
What Residents Can Expect
Based on the best available evidence:
• Most properties in Green Garden are unlikely to see any change in value due to a nearby solar facility.
• Any effects that do occur are expected to be small, localized, and temporary.
• Strong screening, thoughtful siting, and clear communication help maintain stability.
This is not speculation—this is what the data shows in rural townships across the Midwest.
Commitment as a Township
As a township, we can take steps to protect property values by:
• Requiring vegetative buffers and enhanced setbacks
• Ensuring long term maintenance of screening
• Reviewing traffic, drainage, and construction plans
• Keeping residents informed with accurate, timely information
These measures help ensure that any project fits the character of Green Garden Township and respects the people who live here.
What the Research Actually Shows
• Virginia Tech / PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) Study (2025)
Dataset: 8.8 million real estate sales Finding: “It’s complicated,” but no consistent evidence of property value decline near solar farms. This is one of the largest, most rigorous analyses to date.
• CohnReznick / NextEra Multi State Adjacent Property Study (2021)
Locations: Indiana, Illinois (LaSalle County), Minnesota, Michigan Finding: No measurable negative impact on adjacent property values across six existing solar facilities.
• Commercial Scale Solar Property Value Study (2024)
Finding: Commercial scale solar farms do not hurt property values; in some cases, they may provide a slight boost.
What These Studies Do Not Show
• No peer reviewed study has found that solar farms cause a declining real estate market.
• No evidence that solar development depresses regional markets, township wide values, or agricultural land values.
• No causal link between solar siting and long term market deterioration.
Why Residents Sometimes Perceive Decline
• Rumors and fear based narratives can temporarily reduce buyer activity even when the underlying market fundamentals are unchanged.
• This is a behavioral market effect, not a solar facility effect.
But critically: perception driven slowdowns are not evidence of solar driven value loss.
