I can agree with you partially on that sentiment. However, a large number of wind farms are in crop land regions of the country where agriculture is still happening under them. Covering up good farm land with a solar panel is not the most ideal way to make it agriculturally productive but, like stated previously, some farmers are finding ways to raise things like sheep on that ground. In many situations, allowing wind or solar on their farm land is a profit increase. Until the farmer can make more money JUST farming their land, they will always have to look for additional income options.
I live close to The Wilds, a type of large scale zoo in Ohio. Its basically a huge grassland. You know why it's only grassland? Because when they mined for coal here, they ruined the agricultural productivity of the land.
Just a few miles south of me, in Noble county, several thousand acres of privately owned rural ground is being strip mined. Most of the mineral rights were sold prior to the current land owners purchasing their land. They have zero say. The coal company has already sold this coal, but not in America. It has already been bought by China.
Are there smarter places to put solar panels and wind turbines, absolutely. But my diversifying America's energy production options, we decrease dependence. The farm that is struggling gets some additional income and their land is still productive to them. The natural gas boom in my area has been a God send for all of the land owners in our area, and it has a minimal impact, at least from an extraction stand point. None of them are perfect (we may not have perfect energy production until I am an old man with fusion), but some are better options than others.
Also, IMO, urban sprawl is the greatest threat to farm land. Just drive around Columbus, Ohio if you want a perfect example of that.
