Country star John Rich is taking direct aim at New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, accusing her administration of silencing farmers and brushing aside local officials as the state pursues major renewable energy projects across upstate farmland, as reported by Fox News.

Rich, 52, a member of Big & Rich, has publicly aligned himself with landowners, activists and officials challenging the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, known as ORES. The state agency reviews and permits major renewable energy and transmission developments.

His criticism now has a soundtrack. Rich released “Dear Kathy” on Oct. 28, directing the country song at Hochul, a Democrat running for another term, and presenting it as a voice for farmers and property owners protesting large scale solar and wind projects.

During an interview with Fox News Digital, Rich pointed to the song’s final line, which asks, “Why do you hate these people so much?” He then delivered another blistering question: “What have they ever done to you except pay taxes and put food on your table? That’s it.”

Rich argued that greed is likely driving the push for expansive renewable projects. He said the combined plans for upstate New York would cover more than 100 square miles with solar panels.

The dispute centers on the state’s centralized permitting structure for large solar and wind projects. Created in 2020 under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, ORES generally handles renewable energy projects capable of producing at least 25 megawatts.

ORES rules encourage developers to avoid New York’s most productive agricultural soils and require them to minimize or mitigate harm when farmland cannot be avoided. The agency can also waive local zoning and land use restrictions that it considers “unreasonably burdensome.”

Critics contend that this authority gives state officials excessive control and leaves affected communities with little influence over projects in their own areas. Rich said the agency’s power undercuts “home rule,” the principle that landowners and local governments should control how community land is used.

Rich also claimed that Hochul’s administration used research from Cornell University to change the definition of prime farmland, making agricultural property more accessible for renewable projects. “So they just redefined it,” he said.

The singer described ORES as a mechanism that allows the state to overpower resistance from farmers and communities. “I mean, it is a complete and total chokeout that she’s put on these farmers up there,” Rich said.

He emphasized the deep roots of some affected families, saying certain farms have remained within the same families since before the Revolutionary War. Rich called the conflict astonishing and disgusting, while also saying he believed it was probably unconstitutional.

Hochul has continued advancing New York’s renewable energy agenda since taking office in 2021. Her administration has promoted major solar and wind development while maintaining that the projects are not consuming the state’s “best farmland” and that solar leases can help farmers retain family property.

Hochul’s office forcefully rejected Rich’s criticism. Ken Lovett, a senior communications adviser on energy and environment for Hochul, pointed instead to tariffs, the war with Iran, rising gas and diesel prices, and ICE raids as issues hurting farmers.

Rich said he became involved after seeing upstate landowner and ORES critic Alexandra Fasulo discussing the dispute on social media. Doubting that the state could sideline landowners, zoning boards, mayors and other local officials, he traveled to the area to investigate personally.

He held two town hall meetings, including one at Fasulo’s farm, and met hundreds of farmers and landowners. Rich recalled Amish attendees standing silently at the back of the room while participants expressed frustration and bewilderment over what they believed was a loss of their voice.

Those meetings inspired “Dear Kathy,” which Rich described as a “fight song” for the people he met. He said the farmers included Democrats and Republicans, possibly more Democrats than Republicans, and insisted their concern about ownership and control of land crossed party lines.

The song’s music video shows areas in upstate New York, local landowners and the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, which has opposed major wind projects near its grounds. Rich said the song was his way of speaking for people he believes Hochul refuses to hear.

Despite his harsh criticism, Rich said he would eagerly meet Hochul and directly question her about the farmers’ concerns, the Constitution and home rule. He said he would ask why the people she governs should not determine what happens to their own land.

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