For generations, ranching has meant working the land the traditional way: raising livestock, growing feed and making the most of every usable acre.
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ranching → mean → acre
For Greg Kesler, however, some of his Utah ranch has found an unexpectedly productive second life.
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some → find → life
On portions of his Double Dollar Ranch where agriculture produced relatively little, rows of solar panels now generate electricity and a steady income that has helped the family expand its cattle and horse operation.
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family → produce → operation
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Kesler’s ranch in Millard County has more than doubled in size during the past decade.
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ranch → accord → decade
The transformation has been driven not simply by livestock or horse-related activities, but by a decision to lease about 1,100 acres to solar developers.
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transformation → drive → developers
Turning unproductive acres into an asset
According to the online media reports, the solar developers own and operate the panels, while Kesler earns lease income from the land.
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Kesler → turn → land
For a rancher operating in an industry where rising costs can quickly erode margins, that dependable revenue has provided a valuable financial cushion.
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revenue → operate → cushion
The opportunity was particularly attractive because the land used for the solar installations was not especially productive for traditional agriculture.
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land → use → agriculture
Rather than relying on sparse grass to support cattle, Kesler found another way for those acres to contribute to the ranch.
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acres → rely → ranch
The idea emerged after Kesler encountered a solar project while working in Hawaii.
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Kesler → emerge → Hawaii
As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, he began considering whether similar infrastructure could work on his Utah property.
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infrastructure → report → property
His ranch already had important advantages, including access to a transmission line and a large substation, making it well suited for energy development.
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it → have → development
Once the projects were established, solar became the most financially productive component of his operation, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
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solar → establish → Tribune
The additional income also allowed Kesler to purchase neighbouring properties and steadily expand the family ranch.
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Kesler → allow → ranch
Solar becomes a family business
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Solar → become → ?
The renewable-energy venture has extended beyond Kesler himself.
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venture → extend → Kesler
His son, Landon Kesler, has built a business maintaining solar panels on their ranch while also servicing projects elsewhere, the online report adds.
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report → build → projects
For the family, the arrangement has created a new source of income without completely changing the character of the ranch.
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arrangement → create → ranch
Cattle and horses remain central to the operation, which also hosts team roping events and runs an internship programme.
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which → remain → programme
The Keslers' experience reflects a broader question facing Utah's agricultural communities: whether renewable energy can help financially support ranches at a time when traditional farming and livestock operations face mounting pressures.
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operations → reflect → pressures
Rural schools also see the benefits
Solar development is affecting more than individual landowners. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that large solar projects can also generate substantial property-tax revenue for rural communities and school districts.
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projects → see → communities
The Clover Creek solar project in Juab County offers one example.
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project → offer → example
Located near Mona and visible from Interstate 15, the facility contains more than 200,000 panels and produces about 80 megawatts of electricity.
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facility → locate → electricity
During the growing season, sheep graze around the panels, helping control vegetation.
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sheep → grow → vegetation
Since becoming operational in 2021, the project has generated more than $1.03 million in property taxes, with roughly half going to the Juab School District, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
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half → become → Tribune
Over its projected 20-year lifespan, the facility is expected to generate about $5.7 million in tax revenue.
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facility → project → revenue
The additional funding has helped the district accelerate purchases of computers, 3D printers, robotics equipment and other resources, while also supporting activities such as a swim team and gaming club.
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district → help → team
A debate over Utah's farmland
Solar's growing presence has also sparked concern over the future of agricultural land.
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presence → grow → land
During Utah's latest legislative session, lawmakers approved legislation restricting certain tax incentives for solar projects located on agricultural property.
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lawmakers → approve → property
The measure is intended to discourage large-scale renewable-energy installations on productive farmland and preserve land for agriculture.
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measure → intend → agriculture
As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, he believes landowners should have greater freedom to decide how less productive portions of their property are used.
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portions → report → property
For Kesler, solar has ultimately provided a way to strengthen rather than abandon his family's ranching legacy.
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solar → provide → legacy
The cattle and horses remain, but some of the ranch's most valuable acres now produce electricity.
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some → remain → electricity
In that sense, the fourth-generation rancher has found a modern addition to an old family business — one that allows the land to keep working, even when traditional agriculture cannot.
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agriculture → find → business
The Aporia
