The conclusion to this is key: “But an analysis she recently conducted also delivered good news: With careful planning, Virginia can meet its solar needs while protecting the most valuable forests, wetlands and other ecosystems. Marginal farmland with poor soil, typically used for hay or pasture rather than crops, could be a better option than forest or prime farmland, for example. While some places are too steep or too far from high-voltage transmission lines to be potential solar sites, a more equitable, transparent and environmentally sensitive distribution of solar energy is possible.”
The study referenced above is worth a look, and delves into important economic factors impacting this issue: “Solar Siting in Virginia“