2025 End of Year Campaign

Protecting What Makes Lexington Special

2025 was a big year for Fayette Alliance.

From addressing large-scale solar proposals on nationally recognized farmland to partnering with the University of Kentucky on the updated Economic Impact of Agriculture study, our mission has remained the same: protect what makes Lexington special by advocating for smart, sustainable growth.

Industrial Solar

When industrial solar projects were proposed on prime farmland, Fayette Alliance brought together advocates, farmers, and policymakers to find a balanced path forward. We continue to support renewable energy — but not at the expense of the world-class farmland that defines Fayette County. Thanks to strong community advocacy, the Urban County Council passed policies prohibiting large-scale solar on farmland while establishing a work group to study the issue further — a thoughtful, informed approach we’ll continue to engage with in the year ahead.

• Click the video below to watch Fayette Alliance’s Executive Director, Brittany Roethemeier, deliver her public comments to Council on the issue of industrial-scale solar.

• Additionally, click the video below to see aerial footage of the farmland proposed for industrial-scale solar development, which we shared with Council, community stakeholders, and throughout our various communication channels.

Funding New Research

Our partnership with the University of Kentucky and local agricultural organizations reinforced just how vital our farmland is to Lexington’s economy and identity. The updated study found that Fayette County’s agricultural cluster supports over 16,000 jobs — roughly 1 in 12 — and contributes more than $2.6 billion annually to our local economy. Farmland isn’t just part of our landscape; it’s part of our livelihood.

• Below is the infographic we designed and distributed throughout the community to showcase the findings of the Economic Impact of Agriculture survey.

Donate

Your support makes this progress possible. As we look ahead to 2026, your gift to Fayette Alliance’s End of Year Campaign will power the advocacy, research, and education that keep Lexington growing in a smart, sustainable way.