# John Rich says Kathy Hochul is ‘running over’ NY farmers with renewable energy agenda

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/john-rich-says-kathy-hochul-is-running-over-ny-farmers-with-renewable-energy-agenda/
- Published: 2026-11-04T02:08:20+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T03:24:07+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/john-rich-says-kathy-hochul-running-over-ny-farmers-renewable-energy-agenda
- Topics: Climate, Entertainment, Music, Science, World

## Key points

- John Rich says planned solar projects could cover over 100 square miles.
- He accuses Hochul’s policies of sidelining farmers and local officials.
- ORES can waive local land-use rules for some renewable projects.

## Summary

New reporting adds John Rich’s claim that planned solar projects in upstate New York could cover more than 100 square miles, and that the state changed its definition of prime farmland to ease development. Rich says Governor Kathy Hochul’s renewable energy policies override local officials and put farmers’ land and property rights at risk.

Rich, a member of country duo Big & Rich, released “Dear Kathy” last month and has joined landowners and activists challenging the state’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES). Created in 2020, ORES generally reviews renewable projects of at least 25 megawatts and can waive local zoning rules it considers unreasonably burdensome. The article reports Rich’s allegations and describes state rules that encourage developers to avoid the most productive agricultural soils or minimise impacts where farmland is used.

## Coverage

- [Fox News: John Rich says Kathy Hochul is ‘running over’ NY farmers with renewable energy agenda](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/john-rich-says-kathy-hochul-running-over-ny-farmers-renewable-energy-agenda)
- [New York Post: Country star John Rich slams Hochul’s renewable energy agenda, defends NY farmers: ‘Takes away our voice’](https://nypost.com/2026/11/03/us-news/john-rich-slams-hochuls-renewable-energy-agenda-defends-ny-farmers-takes-away-our-voice/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.