Unlocking the Potential of Agrivoltaics in California and Colorado

The first few months as the Smart Solar Program Coordinator at American Farmland Trust (AFT) have been exciting and fast-paced. With a background in livestock, agricultural policy, and farmer advocacy, I stepped into the world of solar energy, rural energy, and agrivoltaics with little prior experience. For the past ten years, I’ve resided in San Luis Obispo County on California’s Central Coast, surrounded by rolling hills, beaches, vineyards, and a university. Agriculture still plays a major role in the county, with strawberry, wine grape, and vegetable farms, along with cow/calf operations scattered throughout the area, contributing to California’s leading agricultural economy.

California’s Unique Energy Landscape

San Luis Obispo County also holds a unique position in California's energy landscape. It hosts Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, several solar projects—including Gold Tree Farm operated by my alma mater, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo—and both a proposed offshore wind site and battery storage facility in Morro Bay. California leads the nation in both agriculture and solar power generation while continuing to expand its energy portfolio.

Agrivoltaics in California

While California is a leader in traditional solar technology, the state has been slow to advance agrivoltaics on a larger scale. However, universities such as UC Davis, UC Merced, and the Berkeley Food Institute have been ramping up their research and development efforts in this area. UC Davis has shown its increasing interest by hosting the California-Germany Agrivoltaics Conference for the past two years. The university’s research efforts have been spearheaded by Dr. Majdi Abou Najm, Associate Professor of Land, Water, and Air at UC Davis. Similarly, Dr. Sarah Kurtz at UC Merced will be exploring agrivoltaics further with the establishment of an on-campus agrivoltaics array this coming year.

 As discussions about agrivoltaics evolve in CA, the state can reference AFT’s newly established definition of agrivoltaics to inform potential policy development and incentive programs. AFT identifies agrivoltaic projects as having two key features: 1. Production of marketable agricultural products throughout the full life of the solar array, and 2.  Intentional design of the solar array, done in consultation with farmers or other experts, to ensure that these systems are constructed, installed, and operated so that land within the array is suitable for agricultural production—with flexibility for the farmer to change what they produce in response to market demand throughout the 30-40 year+ life of the project.

California should also examine what other states, like Colorado, are doing to advance this field, as they have established incentives, completed notable projects, and are further along in the process.

Observing Agrivoltaics in Colorado

During a recent trip to the Colorado Farm Show, I witnessed the growing momentum for agrivoltaics in Colorado, a state that has made significant strides in supporting on-farm energy initiatives. While there, I saw firsthand the efforts and engagement with farmers and ranchers regarding agrivoltaics and on-farm energy. Our goal was to share resources about Smart Solar℠ and engage in meaningful conversations with farmers and ranchers about agricultural energy.

During the event, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) highlighted its specific efforts to promote agrivoltaics during recent programming. They showcased the funding mechanism created by Senate Bill 23-092 in 2023, a bipartisan initiative that allocated $500,000 towards agrivoltaics grants. An additional $500,000 was renewed for a second funding round in 2024, and plans are underway for a third round this year. Through this initiative, AFT and AgriSolar Consulting developed resources for Colorado producers and landowners interested in agrivoltaics. We shared the publication “Funding Opportunities for Agrivoltaics in Colorado: A Guide for Producers, Landowners, and Service Providers” with attendees at the Colorado Farm Show, which serves as a crucial resource created through this grant.

Additionally, Colorado has become a center for agrivoltaics research and demonstration projects. Jack’s Solar Garden and its non-profit,  Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center, allow visitors to tour the site, attend seminars, and enjoy local food produced on-site. It has quickly become the most-visited solar array in the nation, highlighting the importance of dual-use solar. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, also based in Colorado, contributes to several agrivoltaics projects and helps develop resources and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers. Other additional dual-use projects are in the pipeline by developers with plans to demonstrate the benefits of agrivoltaics.

Looking Toward the Future

It is encouraging to see states like Colorado gain traction in this field and by doing so, support their agricultural community. With the current uncertainties and landscape surrounding federal funding opportunities, it is crucial for states, now more than ever, to take the lead in uplifting and supporting farmers and ranchers by creating effective programs and funding sources. Hopefully, California recognizes this as the opportunity to enhance its capacity for agrivoltaics and leverage its strength in solar energy and agriculture to lead by example.