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Agrivoltaics: A social study What Reddit Can Tell Us About Opposition To Solar Farming and What it Takes to Change Minds

Fri, 2025-07-04 00:07

In dry conditions with wet winters and shade-loving crops, combining solar and farming can create a synergistic effect where both energy and crop production are enhanced. Agrivoltaics, pairing solar energy with farming and ranching–vegetation and livestock–can boost production and control wind and soil erosion, increase pollinator habitat, and promote soil health. Crops are sheltered from intense rain or hail, a common problem on traditional farms. They are also protected from an overabundance of sunlight. Excess sunlight, not required in certain growing conditions, can be harvested for energy generation.

If properly sited, solar panels partner well with farming. They can be more efficient on farmland, especially with trackers, and shade-loving crops will have improved growing conditions. Rainwater is directed to crops planted below the bottom edge of the solar panels. While you may not be able to pack in as many panels per acre as on a rooftop, the soil and vegetation below the panels cool the panels due to evapotranspiration, which also enhances panel production efficiency. Solar panels provide pollinator habitat as well as grazing and shade for some farm animals, an added benefit, especially in the U.S., where 35% of farmland is used for grazing.1

I recently saw a sign in the Lafayette/Erie rural suburbs of Boulder, Colorado, that said, “Say NO to solar panels on our farms.” I was surprised to see this–was solar being forced on farms?

Though not a traditional research source, I found Reddit useful in distilling the nuanced sentiments of the debate, based on socio-economics and policy. One commenter on Reddit addressed the issue: “It amuses me that people who are strongly into property rights believe they can tell farmers what they can do with their property. The whole world isn’t a HOA.”2

Those opposed to solar argue the economics of land use and property values. Opposition to solar farms is primarily due to misinformation, conflicts in property rights, land use, economic uncertainties, and cultural values. Cultural value conflicts are generally rooted in a community’s identity as rural.

Despite the strong sentiment of disapproval of solar power in rural America, credible research organizations and farmers are pairing solar and farming as a win-win. The agriculture industry needs innovative solutions like agrivoltaics to make the industry more sustainable by addressing its often-criticized high carbon footprint and energy consumption.3

Opposition to Solar Farming

While much of the debate over solar farms is about land use and straightforward NIMBY (Not in my back yard) -ism, a lot of it is also linked to political “culture wars” where the opposition is getting their information from oil and gas proponents who have vested interests against renewable energy, no matter how and where it is produced.

Rural America doesn’t want to lose its agricultural identity. This is part of their culture. Solar development is akin to modernization and industrialization, which are seen by some as fundamentally opposed to a rural way of living. Using the sun as fuel however, is inherent to farming.

Economics

The economic value of each acre of farmland is directly tied to the cost of food. Solar can add more revenue than “cash crops” alone, raising the value of the land. However, land use for energy is still just a drop in the bucket, accounting for just 0.4% of ice-free land globally. And yet, almost 50% of the world’s habitable land is dedicated to agriculture.4

Comparing growing corn for energy to solar production is no contest– it takes about 31 hectares of corn ethanol to produce the same amount of energy generated by one hectare of land covered in solar panels.5

Some of the opposition is not against solar entirely, but feel it should be limited to rooftops and parking lots. Their stance is more of an “either/or” approach, instead of “and/along with.” This sentiment highlights some of the nuances of the public debate. Agrivoltaics can offer a bridge, providing the best of both worlds to farming and clean energy.

Propaganda

There is also a lot of misinformation being spread out there, such as solar panels contribute to global warming by reflecting heat into the atmosphere, and solar panels leach chemicals into the ground below them, both of which are completely untrue. A North Carolina town rejected a solar farm project out of fears that they ‘suck energy from the sun’, and cause cancer, both of which are also not true.6 More likely, this concern stems from an overall anti-development sentiment. Residents were also concerned that a nearby solar farm would decrease their property values. Often, the opposite is true, or developers can make small adjustments to improve outcomes. “The folks concerned about property value are generally referring to home value, if they live nearby. Studies have been consistent in showing that nearby property values may be slightly increased or decreased, but it is a wash. Impacts on the value of nearby farmland is little more complicated. Adjacent farmland that is near interconnection points, may become more valuable for further solar development or for mixed-use agrivoltaics. Its value for conventional farming is likely to remain unchanged, but we’ve heard of cases where rapid solar development can erode traditional rural economies. Community dialog–without panic–is key,” according to Jill Cliburn, who consults with utilities and solar planners on community engagement.7

Teasing apart anti-progress from an ”anything new” sentiment can quickly become political. It is a difficult situation because, for example, it is easy not to want a data center in or near your backyard; therefore not a far stretch not to want the energy production near you to power it.

People express fear of fires, but they do not seem to be well informed about how fires might start or why they are, in fact, extremely rare. The rise in battery energy storage systems has created a storm of controversy in some states. This is especially true when a fire does break out in an outdated, substandard battery plant or in a facility used for car battery-related manufacture.

Politics

There is and is going to be a continuously expanding need for more energy production due to the increased demand for and by data centers.

Let’s be clear – no one is being forced to produce solar. However, there is concern that legislation in many states allows power producers to overrule local zoning decisions on major energy facilities.

Many of the voices in these rural areas are voices of opposition. Bedford County (Virginia) Board of Supervisors said, “I’m going to suggest right now that we make it clear that Bedford County — we have a great economy made up of recreation, tourism, and agriculture, and putting solar panels here would do nothing but destroy the character of this county. And I’ll tell you right now, before those sons of b— come in here and put solar panels in, I will fight to the death.”8

A misinformed Reddit thread discussed the micro-economics of farming land use: “The tenant farmers do get shafted, which is sad. At the end of the day, though, the landowner has to protect their investment. We are talking about generational wealth here. Corn prices are not going up.”

Others disagreed: “Shift enough land away from growing corn (aka reduce supply) and prices will go up.”

Picture a farmer who “can’t milk his back 40 for solar income” and therefore had to sell his land to a developer who turned it into Walmart. Is this any better?

Walmart was brought up again in another post: “I’ve run into all sorts of roadblocks in upstate New York. Some people just don’t like seeing them because “we moved up here to look at green fields and mountains”. They said that while the Walmart box store was visible down the hill.”

The irony of this conservative viewpoint is that it runs against a long-held conservative principle: property rights. The complications over government power and its imposition over both how you can and can’t use your land provide a nuanced discussion with many viewpoints that are sometimes conflicting. Some counties have imposed caps on how much land they’ll allow for solar development or set up other rules that make solar development difficult.

The objections to solar vary from place to place, but one objection is consistent. Many people in rural areas see solar farms — a term that is sadly coming to be regarded as propaganda — as industrial development, incompatible with a rural community. If people wanted to look out on an industrial site, they wouldn’t be living in (fill in the blank with whatever community is involved).

Solutions

As the Native Americans taught us, farming is part of our sustenance, our survival. There is a connection between the economic and energetic need for farmers to be responsible for their carbon footprint. Agrivoltaic systems can help farms diversify income, provide energy, and reduce carbon footprint.

Agrivoltaics can help nurse our disturbed lands back to life. In November of 2024, NREL published the longest-run, most comprehensive assessment of interactions between solar, soil, habitat, and pollinators to date. The research found that prairie restoration activities can occur underneath solar panels, with observed increased abundance and diversity of both vegetation and pollinators.9

Opposition to Solar Farming Posts on Reddit:2 “I will never support covering acre upon acre of the world’s best farmland with solar panels. It’s a stupid idea. The rich black dirt in Iowa will grow any seed you plant in it. It’s quite amazing, really. Iowa farmers will tell you that on a hot day, you can actually HEAR the corn grow. It can grow 3-4 inches per day when conditions are right. Same for all the surrounding states. Let’s be smart and use this land for its best productive purpose – to grow food, graze cattle, raise hogs, so I can put baby backs on my smoker.”

“I saw a sign in a county near me that said basically, “You can’t feed people with solar farms. Stop energy companies from purchasing farmland.”

“As the population continues to grow, if viable farmland is being bought and turned into solar farms, that could be an issue.”

Reading between the lines: Opposition appears to be to large solar farms in general, not necessarily agrivoltaic operations that have traditional farming practices.

Pro Solar Farming Commentary on Reddit:2 “If a landowner wants to put a solar farm on their land… suddenly everybody else has a big opinion about it. What happened to respecting property rights?”

“Please tell me how large-scale, intensive hog or poultry farming is LESS disruptive than solar.”

“This is all ground that we own, grow crops on, and have been for 50 years so it doesn’t affect anyone but us. I understand if you’re shorting someone else by signing solar leases, but that isn’t the case with us.”

“There’s a ‘no solar on farmland’ sign about a quarter mile from a farm field that was sold for 4 McMansions near Plain City. Apparently, that’s ok.”

How much land is needed? By 2050, ground-based solar could require about 0.5% of the land in the contiguous U.S., according to the EPA’s Solar Futures Study. The study suggests prioritizing disturbed lands (8% of land) and dual-use land opportunities such as agriculture.10

Pairing ground mounts with single-axis trackers as well as bifacial solar fencing uses an even smaller footprint.

NREL estimates that the U.S. would meet its renewable energy goals if one million acres of farmland were covered in solar.11 Agriculture, food, and related industries in the United States total over $1 trillion, or about 5% of the country’s GDP. Almost half (44%) of U.S. land is used for agriculture, and the direct output of America’s farms contributes $134.7 billion, or about 0.6% the the country’s GDP. Food and solar energy are not at odds; in fact, they are complementary.

I spoke to farmers who voiced their concerns. “What do we do when they don’t work anymore?” By educating that the panels and electronics are replaced in 25 years or so, citizens can be empowered to be part of the solution. Others expressed fears of wasted land, not knowing the secret lives of leafy greens, tomatoes and peppers who thrive in partial shade.

Internal champions and advocates are needed in rural areas so that the sentiment is one of choice and less of forced change. Emphasizing the dual use of solar as an adjunct to farming instead of competition is central to this conversation.

The more we can listen to each other, the better we can work together to meet our energy needs sustainably. And as technology, education, and public support increase, the better options we will have, and the more agrivoltaics will be embraced and deployed on our farmlands to secure
a clean living future.

About the Author
Carly Rixham is the Executive Director for American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and Editor in Chief of Solar Today magazine. She received her Masters in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Colorado at Boulder. In her free time she enjoys art, gardening, beekeeping, and skiing.

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Solar Industry: A Driving Force for Economic Growth, Job Creation

Thu, 2025-07-03 02:30

The solar industry is not just about clean energy – it is an economic powerhouse that drives investment, job creation, and technological innovation across the U.S.

With over $70 billion in private investment flowing into the sector and more than 280,000 Americans employed in solar-related jobs, the industry’s rapid expansion demonstrates its critical role in the nation’s economic future.1

A Booming Sector with Expansive Job Growth

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the number of solar businesses in the U.S. now exceeds 10,000, contributing to job growth across multiple fields, including research and development, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. In 2023 alone, solar industry jobs grew by 5.9%, with utility-scale solar employment seeing a 6.8% increase.

SEIA also reports that In 2024, the U.S. solar industry installed nearly 50 gigawatts direct current (GW DC) of capacity, a 21% increase from 2023.2 Also, domestic module manufacturing capacity grew an unprecedented 190% year-over-year, from just 14.5 GW atthe end of 2023 to 42.1 GW at the end of 2024.

Notably, jobs in solar installation are projected to surge by 48% from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it one of the fastest-growing professions in the country.3

This economic impact extends across nearly all 50 states, with significant employment gains in key markets such as Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. The industry provides crucial opportunities for both urban and rural communities, diversifying local economies and offering stable, well-paying careers.

Federal Incentives Propel U.S. Solar Manufacturing Growth

Government policies, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), have accelerated the U.S. solar market’s expansion. According to the American Clean Power Association, at least 160 clean energy manufacturing facilities or expansions have been announced since August 2022, driven by tax credits in the IRA, with 47 announced in 2024 alone.4

Prior to these incentives, the U.S. ranked seventh globally in module manufacturing capacity. Today, it has risen five-fold to reach third place, demonstrating the impact of strategic investments in clean energy infrastructure. This growth extends beyond just solar panels; the industry supports a robust supply chain that includes storage solutions, mounting systems, power electronics, and other key components.

Through this expansion comes innovation in the solar field. Companies in the U.S. are now creating leading edge technology for key solar elements such as high-efficiency modules, solar energy storage, and AI-driven smart grids. The support from policies such as the IRA allows companies to mature and invest at a faster rate, protecting the American industry by creating an encouraging atmosphere for U.S-made solutions to compete with industry rivals in China and others.

Economic Engine for Local Communities

With traditional manufacturing sectors, such as automotive and industrial, facing potential declines in the coming years, solar energy presents
a promising alternative for economic stability. BNEF projects a 76% increase in global energy storage installations in 2025, reinforcing the industry’s long-term viability.5

A Bright Future for U.S. Solar Energy

The solar industry accounted for 66% of all new electricity-generating capacity additions in 2024 according to SEIA, marking it as a dominant force in the energy sector.6 As technology advances and solar adoption continues to rise, the industry will further cement its position as a cornerstone of the American economy.

The ongoing actions on tariffs present challenges and will have an impact on the global supply chain, and by extension the solar market in the U.S. But companies that remain resilient and focused on delivering high-quality products and services, stay in close communication with global partners, and continue to adapt as the tariff situation unfolds, will be the most prepared to weather the storm.

By continuing to invest in domestic manufacturing, workforce development, and supportive policies, the U.S. can solidify its position in the global renewable energy market. The solar industry is more than an environmental solution – it is a crucial driver of economic growth, job creation, and energy independence.

About the Author
Jonathan Fenoll is Director of Solar Utility-Scale Business Line for ARaymond, a global leader in fastening and assembly systems serving the automotive, energy, agriculture, healthcare, and construction markets.

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Cartoon

Thu, 2025-07-03 02:23

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Agrivoltaics in Texas: Integrating Solar Power with Agriculture

Thu, 2025-07-03 02:18

As Texas leads the nation in solar deployment, its family farms face a looming generational cliff: only 2% of farms are passed down intact. Agrivoltaics offers a powerful solution, allowing farmers to maintain their land, diversify income, and build climate resilience.

Recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding, including $2.2 million for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)’s VANGUARD project, provides an opportunity for Texas to support rural producers through clean energy.

What Is Agrivoltaics?

According to the American Farmland Trust (AFT) agrivoltaics involves the strategic co-location of agricultural and solar energy infrastructure on the same land, maximizing land use while supporting farm viability and producing clean energy.

While sheep grazing is common, agrivoltaics shines brightest with high-value crops like leafy greens, berries, tomatoes, melons, and grapes. It also supports agroforestry, pollinator habitats, and it diversifies income streams.

A Booming Market with Texas at the Forefront

In 2023, the global agrivoltaics market, driven by crop production and power generation, was valued at $3.31 billion, projected to surpass $13.3 billion by 2033.1 Agrivoltaics could represent 10% of global solar capacity by 2030.2 In the U.S., over 500 solar sites generate nine gigawatts of renewable energy, powering farms and urban areas.

Texas is poised to lead the way with 135 million acres of private land and a projected 35,324 MW of solar capacity by 2028. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and USDA3 programs are drivers of this growth, allocating $820.25 million to support renewable energy in rural areas.

High-Value Crops: The Economic Engine of Agrivoltaics

By combining energy and agriculture, agrivoltaics can increase total land productivity by 35-70%.4 Shade-tolerant crops, such as lettuce, have shown significant yield increases,5 while microclimates beneath panels improve water retention and reduce stormwater runoff.

Economic returns are substantial: lettuce revenue can increase by 30%, and tomato revenue can rise by 36% in the Southeast.6 Cornell University models demonstrate that combining solar panels and crops on one acre of land can yield over four acres of high-value crops grown without panels, generating higher revenue.

Pollinators: Boosting Biodiversity and Farm Profits

Pollinator habitats beneath solar arrays support 75% of food crops and cut maintenance costs by 20%.7 Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and other insects, are necessary for the success of a large portion of food production from crops. and cut maintenance costs by 20%.8

Native vegetation cools soil, boosts PV efficiency, and improves biodiversity. These ecosystems serve as organic infrastructure, supporting resilience and long-term soil health.

Vineyards: A Texas Opportunity

Solar panels in Portugal have reduced irrigation by 30%, improved grape yields by up to 30%, and enhanced quality by 15%.9 Texas vineyards can adopt similar approaches, as demonstrated by the Dos Rios Winery project in Rio Grande City, Texas.

In partnership with UTRGV,10 Fortress Microgrid implemented an agrivoltaic system at the 15-acre Dos Rios Winery, shading grape varieties like Blanc Du Bois and Chardonnay. Solar panels provide power for wine production and tasting rooms, lowering electricity costs while improving grape quality and water efficiency by 20-30%.

UTRGV monitors crop yields, soil carbon, and emissions to develop best practices and support broader adoption.

Texas Innovating Through Implementation

CleanTX co-hosted an Earth Day event focused on agrivoltaics in Austin with Solar Austin, a local Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) chapter. The 2025 event brought together farmers, developers, researchers, and policymakers to explore Texas opportunities and innovations in agrivoltaics. More information is available at CleanTX.org.

UTRGV’s VANGUARD initiative addresses current troubling rates of agricultural land loss and food insecurity in the Rio Grande Valley. The project aims to address the loss of both land and food by promoting agrivoltaics to increase resilience, diversify farm income, and support sustainable food production.

In March 2025, the “We Are Women in Ag” event at Dos Rios included an agrivoltaic ribbon cutting and tour, Texas Cottage Law education, canning workshops, and business planning to build awareness and adoption. These efforts are a proactive pro-economic approach to addressing these challenges while building resilience and supporting long-term food security.

Regional Momentum: Oklahoma’s Legislative Push

Neighboring Oklahoma advanced agrivoltaics through the Oklahoma Agrivoltaics Act (HB 2157), which passed the House with a 73–20 vote. The bill aims to harmonize renewable energy development with agricultural productivity by establishing a 17-member Agrivoltaics Advisory Committee.

This committee will advise on policies promoting the coexistence of renewable energy and agriculture, develop educational materials, and recommend research areas. The act also creates the Oklahoma Agrivoltaics Cash Revolving Fund to finance these initiatives.11

Challenges to Overcome

High upfront costs, local zoning challenges, and public resistance remain barriers to agrivoltaic adoption. Farmers express concern about land use and long-term productivity, while Texas-specific issues like mineral rights and REAP funding freezes complicate progress. Clearer regulations and targeted policy incentives similar to Oklahoma’s are essential for scaling.

Policy Path Forward

Policymakers can act by adopting American Farmland Trust’s Smart SolarSM siting principles, prioritizing marginal lands and bundling agrivoltaics into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a U.S. government initiative administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Education through REAP, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, and InSPIRE tools will empower farmers. Pilots led by UTRGV could serve as replicable models throughout the state. The American Farmland Trust recently outlined additional policy recommendations supporting national and state strategies for scaling adoption.

A Sunlit Future for Texas

Agrivoltaics offers a powerful bridge between agriculture and energy, preserving family farms while powering rural economies. The success of Dos Rios Winery illustrates what’s possible. With collaboration, policy support, and continued innovation, Texas can lead the nation in this dual-use development strategy, where the sun powers homes, harvests, and heritage.

About the Author
Raina Tillman Hornaday, a fifth-generation landowner, has 20 years of renewable energy development experience including the Caprock Wind Project in Eastern New Mexico that is currently being decommissioned. She has developed utility-scale wind and solar projects in ERCOT and SPP markets. Dedicated to responsible renewable development, Raina advocates for solutions that support landowners, communities, and the land itself. She serves as Thought Leadership Chair for CleanTX, sits on the boards of the Texas Solar Energy Society and Powerhouse Texas, and earned an M.S. in Energy from Texas Tech University.

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Empowering Farms, Ranches, and Rural Communities: The Promise of Agrivoltaics

Thu, 2025-07-03 02:07

In the race to meet renewable energy goals as demand rises across the United States, farm and ranch land is increasingly becoming a target for solar development. According to the American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) Farms Under Threat: 2040 analysis, there is potential that 83% of solar built by 2040 will be sited on farmland within the United States.1

Without intervention, this landscape-scale change could have major impacts on the future of farming and food security in the U.S.

The emerging field of agrivoltaics – the intentional combination of solar energy generation and agricultural production on the same area of farmland – offers a promising solution that could help farmers and ranchers build long-term farm viability, reduce loss of farmland, and contribute to clean, affordable energy produced domestically in the United States.

As this is a complex and rapidly evolving field, there are currently a variety of definitions of agrivoltaics that are released or under development. To ensure benefits for farmers and long-term agricultural viability, AFT defines agrivoltaics as a “ground-mounted photovoltaic solar energy system that:

Has been intentionally planned and designed with agricultural producers and/or experts, and
Is constructed, installed, and operated to achieve integrated and simultaneous production of both solar energy and marketable agricultural products by an agricultural producer:

– On land beneath and/or between rows of solar panels
– As soon as agronomically feasible and optimal for the agricultural producer after the commercial solar operation date and continuing until decommissioning.”2

AFT’s definition emphasizes the importance of maintaining the “ag” in agrivoltaics, requiring that the solar project is designed and operated to enable the production of one or more agricultural products throughout the lifespan of the project. This farmer-centered approach ensures that the land under the solar array is actively used for agriculture, helping to mitigate the loss of farmland.

One notable benefit of agrivoltaics is that it provides farmers and ranchers with a diversified income, contributing to greater farm viability. Landowners can count on steady income from lease payments, in addition to marketing agricultural products (crops and livestock) grown or raised beneath the solar array.

Furthermore, access to farmland has been a challenge for tenant farmers, and agrivoltaics could create more opportunities for them to secure affordable land to grow their businesses.

A key factor driving the growth of agrivoltaics is vegetation management through solar grazing. Traditionally, diesel-powered mowers are used to maintain vegetation under an array. Utilizing sheep not only serves as an alternative to mechanical methods for managing vegetation but also provides additional grazing land, builds soil health, and can be more cost-effective for asset owners.

Both new and experienced graziers can offer their services to developers, helping to increase the U.S. sheep inventory.3

The shade provided by solar arrays offers shelter to sheep, cattle, and other livestock, protecting them from heat and various weather conditions. For crops, solar panels can also provide beneficial shade, which helps reduce a plant’s response to drought and heat stress while minimizing evaporation under the panels. This leads to improved soil moisture and lessens the need for irrigation.4

As a result, farmers can manage water more efficiently, conserving resources and minimizing the risk of nutrient runoff and leaching beneath the array.5 Additionally, there is ongoing research to assess how solar panels and design types affect the growth of different crop varieties and crop yields.

However, there are some considerations and challenges in pursuing an agrivoltaics project both by the developer and the farmer/rancher. Ground-mounted dual-use systems have additional costs associated with both the structural changes needed to accommodate farming and grazing as well as the additional costs for design and collaboration with stakeholders.

The National Renewable Energy Lab estimates that agrivoltaics systems have a premium of $0.07/Watt to $0.80/Watt in comparison to conventional ground-mounted systems.6 This can be expensive for both the farmer and developer.

Tomatoes growing under the array at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center. © American Farmland Trust

Despite the potential benefits, successful implementation and widespread adoption of agrivoltaics will require funding mechanisms and policies that incentivize developers and support farmers.

Some states have already taken this initiative and developed programs and grants to help fund individual projects, provide property tax exemptions, create standardized siting and permitting for solar projects, and create compensation rate adders for dual-use projects.

Other states are just starting the process by creating statewide definitions for agrivoltaics, hopefully to build off of in the future.

Leading states in the agrivoltaics movement include Colorado, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, among others. Colorado state legislature passed Senate Bill 23-092 in 2023 to appropriate $500,000 for agrivoltaics grants to be used to “conduct a new or ongoing demonstration or research project as a means to study the potential, benefits, and tradeoffs of agrivoltaics in the state”.7

This funding was renewed again for the same amount in 2024, and then for $300,000 in 2025. American Farmland Trust was among the recipients in
2024 and helped produce a guide entitled “Funding Opportunities for Agrivoltaics in Colorado: A Guide for Producers, Landowners, and Service Providers” to help those pursuing agrivoltaics in Colorado.8

In addition to the grant program, Colorado has created a personal property tax exemption for machinery and equipment used in agrivoltaics to produce an agricultural product.9 This also includes the solar array equipment and machinery, benefiting both the farmer and the developer of a project.

Additionally, the code indicates that agricultural land will maintain its status as such when paired with a qualifying agrivoltaics array in
property tax assessments. Maryland has a similar tax regulation providing a personal property tax exemption related to agrivoltaics.10 Both of these tax exemptions could lead to lower property tax rates for developers or landowners.

Taking a different approach to incentives, Massachusetts was one of the first states to incentivize agrivoltaics by creating the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program. It includes a feed-in tariff which provides a premium price for surplus energy sold back to the grid for Agricultural Solar Tariff Generation Units (ASTGUs) established in 2018.

The state’s goal for the ASTGUs, or agrivoltaics systems that comply with the SMART program, is to generate 80 MW AC capacity for the state. Qualifying ASTGUs can receive an additional $0.06 per kWh adder in addition to the base compensation rate set forth by the program.11

Several developers have taken advantage of this opportunity with more projects for the state in the pipeline.

Understanding that the initial development cost of projects can be inhibitive, both New Jersey and New York developed funding programs for projects. New Jersey’s stems from the Dual-Use Solar Energy Act of 2021 that created a 3-year pilot program at Rutgers University that will “lay the groundwork for a permanent
Dual-Use program.”

The program will create incentives specifically for dual-use solar utilizing their preexisting mechanism of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates IIs (SREC-IIs), which gives additional value to the energy produced by the system.12 This would result in a higher bonus reward for participating in agrivoltaics. Last year, New York created a $5 million competitive solicitation through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to fund projects up to $750,000 that “[integrate] both new or retrofitted solar and farm operations such as those with cattle grazing, forage, or specialty crop production.”13

This solicitation was in collaboration with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets with ongoing efforts to collect data on projects funded to inform other agrivoltaics projects in the state.

These are just some of the current, leading state-level actions in agrivoltaics. State-level action will be more important than ever to propel the field of agrivoltaics forward through policy and state-funded actions in light of the uncertainty surrounding federal funding.

These states will hopefully set an example for others to follow suit and recognize that agrivoltaics is a future worth incentivizing.

The future of agrivoltaics requires investment in thoughtful policy, collaborative research, and strategic partnerships that prioritize agricultural production and renewable energy.

Designing systems in coordination with farmers and ranchers, offering clear financial incentives, and replicating effective state-led programs on a national scale will be crucial for widespread adoption. By pursuing this approach, agrivoltaics can become the solution to strengthen rural economies, protect farmland, and help power the country sustainably.

About the Author
Catie Field, Smart Solar Program Coordinator, supports American Farmland Trust’s Smart Solar Program and its work nationally promoting farm viability, safeguarding soils and farmland, and uplifting agrivoltaics. She has an M.S. in Agricultural Science with a focus on animal science and livestock systems.

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Prairie-Voltaics: Harnessing Solar Power and Agriculture to Revitalize Rural Economies

Thu, 2025-07-03 01:47

Agrivoltaics – co-locating solar panels with agriculture or ecological restoration – has won traction within the last decade, offering a win-win for developers and communities by allowing energy production and farming to work hand in hand.1

Yet prairie ecosystems, despite stretching far beyond the Great Plains into states from California to Illinois, are not always highlighted as key opportunities for this trend. Prairie environments function as effective water management systems for some of America’s most iconic species, like bison and bald eagles, serving as a key driver of regional tourism, and they are also responsible for soil health and crop yields.

Research on agrivoltaic and similar prairie-voltaic (adding solar to prairie land) projects is promising. Whether over traditional farming operations in non-prairie environments or for prairie-specific designs, shading from solar panels can reduce plant heat stress and retain soil moisture. One U.S. study found that cherry tomato yields doubled under solar panels, with 65% higher water-use efficiency compared to open-sun cultivation.2

Cooler microclimates under panels mean less evaporation – preserving soil moisture for longer, and requiring less irrigation.1 In semi-arid grassland trials, even a sudden and significant 38% reduction in sunlight due to solar cover had minimal impact on plant productivity, as vegetation quickly adapted to the partial shade.3 These findings show that prairie-voltaics boost land productivity and conserve water, turning harsh sun into an asset, allowing more consistent prairie agricultural operations, and creating electricity.

Biodiversity Blooms Under Solar Panels

Solar farms clearly don’t have to be barren fields; they can host vibrant ecosystems right in the heart of the prairie. Research in Minnesota demonstrated that it’s possible to re-establish native prairie plants under solar arrays, yielding ecological benefits.4 Restored prairie solar sites supported pollinators as robustly as dedicated conservation lands: plant and insect abundance and diversity increased significantly once native wildflowers and grasses were planted.4

Over several years, these “little prairies” under the panels saw native plant cover and pollinator visits steadily rise.4 NREL’s six-year study at three commercial solar farms recorded a 5- to 8-fold increase in native plant species beneath the arrays.5 Soil health also improved – soil under the panels had higher nutrient levels and organic content than adjacent tilled land exposed to full sun.4

Research infographic summarizing how planting native prairie beneath solar panels improves soil nutrients, increases pollinator visits, and expands plant cover over time, all without harming energy output. © NREL

Crucially, long-term monitoring showed that reestablishing prairie takes patience: it required 3–4 years for prairie vegetation to fully take hold after construction (with certain species only appearing in years 5–6).4 Once matured, these solar-prairie habitats can also aid nearby farms. By providing habitat for bees and butterflies, solar sites can enhance pollination of neighboring crops, potentially boosting yields on those lands.4

In short, prairievoltaics turns underutilized space into a biodiversity haven – prairie flowers, insects, birds, and other wildlife can thrive alongside solar panels, rather than being displaced.

Grazing and Agriculture Under Arrays

Prairie-voltaics isn’t limited to plants – it can integrate livestock grazing as well. Many solar farms now partner with local farmers to graze sheep (and sometimes cattle) on the grass growing under and around panels.

Cows leisurely graze beneath a solar array, using the installation as both a source of shade and sustainable fodder production in a prairie-voltaic farm. © Joe DelNero, NREL

This “solar grazing” yields mutual benefits: the animals get forage, and the solar operator gets natural lawnmowers. Using sheep for vegetation management has been shown to dramatically cut maintenance costs. One utility reported paying $250–$750 per acre for sheep grazing – a 75% cost savings compared to traditional mowing.6 Major solar companies with sheep programs across dozens of sites have seen notable reductions in annual operating costs from these practices.6

For farmers, it’s a new income stream (grazing leases or contracts) and additional pasture without needing to buy land.1 Grazing also reduces wildfire risk and direct and indirect costs of land management.

Importantly, the animals themselves benefit: in summer, solar panels provide much-needed shade in open prairie pastures. Research in Minnesota found that dairy cows with access to solar-panel shade had afternoon body temperatures about 1°F lower than unshaded cows, and their respiratory rates dropped from 78 to 66 breaths per minute in the heat.1 This indicates less heat stress, which can translate to better animal health and potentially improved weight gain and milk production.

Overall, integrating grazing makes solar farms more akin to multi-use rangeland, supporting agricultural livelihoods and animal welfare alongside energy production.

Dual-Use Efficiency and Economics

By stacking functions, prairie-voltaics improves the land-use efficiency of this key ecosystem. Even on prime farmland, a well-designed solar-agriculture system can continue to generate farm revenue while producing power. Studies estimate that combining solar with farming or pollinator habitat can raise the total productivity of land well above what either use would achieve alone. Solar panels also add electrical infrastructure to rural communities to support emergency response and land management efforts key to wildfire risk reduction.1

Analysis in dryland regions showed that certain crops yielded 2–3 times more produce under PV panels during hot summers (thanks to reduced heat and water evaporation, lowering plant stress). While such dramatic gains vary by crop and climate, many cool-season or shade-tolerant crops experience higher yields or quality under partial shade, all while the same acres yield electricity.1

The economic implications are compelling. Farmers hosting prairie-voltaics can diversify their income without abandoning agriculture – leasing land for solar, cutting their energy bills, and/or earning fees for grazing or apiary placement. For solar developers, co-location can streamline project permitting and community acceptance. One survey in the U.S. Midwest found 81.8% of residents were more likely to support a solar project if it also produced agricultural benefits.6

Likewise, policies in several states (e.g., pollinator-friendly solar farm scorecards) incentivize designs that restore soil and habitat, which can ease the approval process. In dollar terms the synergy is huge: a Department of Energy study estimated that solar built near pollinator-dependent crops over about 1.1 million hectares could provide $1.5–3.2 billion in combined benefits to energy producers and farmers (by improving crop yields and reducing management costs).7

In essence, dual-use solar makes economic sense – the land works harder and better; both food and energy outputs grow. This integrated approach can help prairie communities see solar not as competition for farmland, but as an ally that bolsters rural economies.

Prairie-Specific Challenges and Considerations

Deploying solar in prairie ecosystems comes with unique challenges and planning considerations. Prairies often feature fertile farmland or remnant native grasslands, but there is often local resistance to converting land for solar use.

In the American Midwest, for instance, residents have opposed projects that would temporarily take hundreds of acres of cropland out of production.8 They worry about industrializing prime agricultural land and losing farm-related jobs and outputs. Prairie-voltaic designs directly address these concerns by ensuring the land continues to provide agricultural or ecological value.

As one Iowa farmer involved in a solar project noted, planting the site with prairie grasses and wildflowers effectively lets the soil “rest and rejuvenate for 35 years”, building up organic matter and fertility for future generations.8 Still, careful site selection and management are crucial.

Truly undisturbed native prairie remnants are rare and ecologically precious – stakeholders often stress that those should be preserved or used only if the project includes robust restoration plans. Indeed, some see an opportunity: using solar installations to restore degraded prairie land.

In California, a 160 MW project on a former nuclear site is doubling as a prairie restoration pilot, to help recover some of the 98% of California’s native prairie habitat that has been lost.9 Such projects require collaboration with ecologists and native plant experts, as well as a willingness to invest time in establishing deep-rooted perennials.

Land-use policy can pose hurdles or add safeguards. Many jurisdictions mandate vegetation management plans. For example, Minnesota encourages pollinator-friendly seed mixes under solar arrays, and some areas require that topsoil not be degraded so the site can revert to farming later.8 Planners must consider panel height and spacing too – raising panels higher (or using wide row spacing) allows farm machinery or tall grasses underneath, but can increase costs.6

Finally, long-term maintenance and conflict resolution are considerations: e.g., controlling invasive weeds in a prairie solar meadow, protecting panels from large wildlife, or coordinating grazing schedules. None of these challenges is insurmountable, but they require that solar developers adopt a mindset of land stewardship in addition to energy production.

With thoughtful planning, prairie solar farms can avoid land-use conflicts by blending in with the rural landscape, acting as prairie restorations or pastureland, rather than simply covering productive ground with infrastructure.

Conclusion: A New Paradigm for Prairie Land Use

Real-world pilot projects and research trials across the Great Plains and prairie regions are validating that solar panels need not displace agriculture or ecosystems – they can enrich them.

Agrivoltaics in prairie ecosystems has demonstrated concrete ecological gains (improved soil moisture and health, greater biodiversity of plants and pollinators, habitat for wildlife) alongside economic benefits (additional farm income, reduced solar maintenance costs, sustained or improved agricultural yields). These dual-use projects turn solar development from a land competitor into a land enhancer.

Instead of the monoculture of gravel or turf grass, solar farms can host native flowers buzzing with pollinators and livestock trimming the grass. They can recharge soils that were depleted by intensive row-cropping, regenerating soil health, and preventing erosion. Early data even suggests nearby crop farms may see higher yields thanks to the pollinator boost – illustrating the wider landscape benefit of prairie-voltaics.4

Moving forward, scaling up prairie-voltaics will require continuing to refine best practices for different prairie climates and community needs. Researchers are developing tools like pollinator-friendly seed mix guides and cost-benefit calculators specific to solar-agriculture systems.9 With 5.7 million acres of land potentially needed to meet U.S. solar goals by 2035 the stakes are high for getting dual-use right.9

The evidence so far is encouraging: prairie solar installations can be more than power plants – they can be pollinator sanctuaries, grazing pastures, and springboards for prairie restoration. Embracing prairie-voltaics offers a path to unite stakeholders who might otherwise clash over land use, creating projects that harvest sunshine while cultivating the ecological and economic vitality of prairie landscapes.

About the Author
Saxon Metzger, MBA (Osage Nation): The President of Eighth Generation Consulting, Metzger specializes in full lifecycle solar and storage installations. Eighth Generation delivers full turnkey project installation, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning, along with grant writing and consulting services. A member of ASES, Metzger teaches graduate-level sustainable business and economics courses at Wilmington University.

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