When Michigan farmer Clara Ostrander discovered the benefits of a solar energy project, she remembered her father's final wish: ""Don't sell the farm. Keep it in the family."" Although she was initially hesitant, she realized that leasing part of her 120-acre farm south of Detroit for solar could help ensure the land stays in the family for her son’s future. Despite this, the proposed solar project faced significant opposition from neighbors concerned about declining property values, damaged farmland, and the loss of their scenic views. They advocated for zoning changes to prevent it. Determined to preserve her family's legacy, Ostrander and her supporters successfully persuaded Michigan lawmakers to pass a statewide permitting law last year, overriding local objections to such large-scale projects. “We’re doing exactly what our ancestors intended — keeping the land they worked so hard for,” said Ostrander. bit.ly/4cLl4Tq