Country music star John Rich is publicly criticizing New York Governor Kathy Hochul's administration over the state's renewable energy policies. Rich alleges that the state's approach silences farmers and overrides local officials in upstate New York, diminishing the voice of landowners in decisions about their property.
Rich has joined local landowners, activists, and officials who are challenging the New York Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES). ORES is a state agency responsible for reviewing and permitting large-scale renewable energy and transmission projects. In response to the controversy, Rich released a new country song titled "Dear Kathy," which he states is directed at Governor Hochul, who is currently seeking re-election.
The song and Rich's public statements address the concerns of farmers and landowners protesting the development of large-scale solar and wind projects on upstate New York farmland. Rich argues that ORES has undermined local control, potentially putting family farms, rural communities, and private property rights at risk.
In an interview, Rich questioned the governor's actions, asking, "Why do you hate these people so much?" He suggested that "greed" is a significant driver, pointing to the extensive plans for solar panel installations across upstate New York, which he estimates could cover over 100 square miles.
The core of the dispute lies in New York's centralized permitting system for renewable energy projects exceeding 25 megawatts. Established in 2020, ORES's regulations encourage developers to avoid prime agricultural land but also grant the agency the power to waive local zoning and land-use restrictions deemed "unreasonably burdensome." Critics contend this power centralizes decision-making with state officials, limiting local community input.
Rich also claimed that Hochul's administration altered the definition of prime farmland, allegedly making it easier for solar and wind projects to be sited on agricultural land. "So they just redefined it," Rich stated. "They just came up with a whole new equation and determined, well, based on these new numbers, there’s really no such thing as prime farmland anymore in upstate New York."
The governor's office, through senior communications adviser Ken Lovett, pushed back against Rich's criticism. Lovett suggested that if Rich genuinely wanted to help farmers, he should focus on issues like federal tariffs, gas prices, and immigration policies.
Rich said he became aware of the situation after seeing an upstate New York landowner express concerns on social media. He visited upstate New York, holding town hall meetings with farmers and landowners, which he said inspired him to write "Dear Kathy."
"The sentiment in the room was so much frustration and feeling of bewilderment that what do you do? I mean, she’s put something into gear here that just runs us over and takes away our voice," Rich said of the meetings.
Rich officially released "Dear Kathy" on October 28, with a music video featuring affected areas in upstate New York. He described the song as a "fight song" for the farmers, emphasizing that the issue transcends party lines and centers on the fundamental right of landowners to control their property.
Despite his criticism, Rich expressed openness to meeting with Governor Hochul to discuss the landowners' concerns directly. "If Kathy Hochul wanted to sit with me and have a meeting, I would jump on the next thing smoking to be up there," he said.