Virginia Advances Agrivoltaics: What the New Law Means for Solar, Farmland and Farmers

On June 17, in Loudoun County, Virginia, Governor Abigail Spanberger joined stakeholders at a ceremonial bill signing to recognize a formal definition of agrivoltaics in the state. This legislation [SB 340 / HB 508], cosponsored by Senator Russett Perry and Delegate John McAuliff, represents an important step toward greater clarity on how solar development and agriculture can intersect to increase financial benefits for farmers.

Governor Spanberger speaks outdoors at the June 17 bill signing event, addressing a live audience with an American flag displayed behind her. — Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger speaks at a June 17 bill signing ceremony for legislation defining agrivoltaics in Virginia.

Agrivoltaics: A New Definition in Virginia

The timing reflects the scale of change already underway. Virginia has set a target of at least 16,100 megawatts of solar energy by 2035, driving increased interest in siting projects across rural landscapes. At the same time, tens of thousands of acres of solar are likely to be developed in the state over the next decade, often on lands that have long been used for agriculture. Meanwhile, data centers are putting unprecedented demand on power grids in Virginia and around the country, with solar emerging as one of the lowest-cost ways to increase electricity generation. For farmers and rural communities, decisions about solar development are increasingly affecting agricultural land and livelihoods across the Mid-Atlantic, where AFT works closely with farmers and local stakeholders navigating these decisions.

“Farmers see both the opportunities and challenges of large-scale solar development. We’ve heard this from them directly,” said Jamie Mierau, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and Eastern Managing Director at American Farmland Trust. “Many are looking for ways to diversify income and strengthen the financial resilience of their operations, but they also want to ensure farmland remains productive and that local communities have a voice in how these projects are developed. Agrivoltaics offers one potential pathway to help balance those goals.”

Rows of solar panels mounted above cultivated farmland at The Piedmont Environmental Council's Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows in Loudoun County, Virginia. Vegetable crops grow beneath and between the elevated panels as part of a crop-based agrivoltaics project. — Solar panels and vegetable crops share the same growing space at The Piedmont Environmental Council's Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows in Loudoun County, Virginia, the site of the Commonwealth's first crop-based agrivoltaics project.

Farmer Perspectives on Solar Development

In 2025, American Farmland Trust’s Mid-Atlantic team surveyed Virginia farmers and landowners about solar energy, underscoring just how nuanced those perspectives are. Many farmers see opportunity in solar, but they value continued agricultural production if their land is utilized to meet Virginia’s energy needs:

64% said solar is best suited to marginal or less productive farmland
53% would consider solar if they could continue to farm under and around the panels

Farmers consistently stress the importance of careful siting, community engagement, and soil health — considerations to reduce long-term impacts of solar on productive farmland. As our survey found, farmers are looking for approaches that align with the needs and values of rural Virginia.

These perspectives are particularly important given the broader land use pressures facing the Commonwealth. If current trends continue, more than 594,000 acres of Virginia farmland could be fragmented or converted to non-agricultural uses by 2040, putting additional strain on working lands even before energy development is fully accounted for.

This is the context in which last week’s legislation matters.

By formally defining agrivoltaics as the intentional co-location of solar energy and active agricultural production while emphasizing the need to prioritize agricultural productivity and maintain working farm operations over time, Virginia is establishing clearer expectations for what this type of “dual-use” should mean in practice.

The definition also lays the groundwork for future stakeholder collaboration, shaping broader solar policy and incentive discussions and building on earlier AFT policy recommendations for defining agrivoltaics.

Definitions alone will not resolve the tensions communities are navigating. But they do shape policy and provide accountability, helping distinguish between solar projects that keep land in farming and those that do not.

Importantly, the solar industry is recognizing the importance of farm viability and strategies to advance positive outcomes for both agriculture and energy production. For example, the Solar and Storage Industries Association found that over 70% of surveyed farmers were open to large-scale solar on their farmland if system designs allow continued agricultural production. In another recent survey of over 5,200 rural Americans in 47 states, researchers found that agrivoltaics and active land stewardship practices were associated with higher levels of community support for large-scale solar projects.

While agrivoltaics is not suitable in every situation, additional research and education across stakeholder groups could lead to project designs that better reflect community priorities, according to the association.

A key conclusion for Virginia and other states is that communities are more likely to support solar if it allows for agricultural production to also continue on that land, reducing the risk of project permitting delays and opposition to renewable energy siting.

A flock of sheep grazes in a grassy field beneath and alongside rows of ground-mounted solar panels under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — Sheep graze beneath solar panels at an agrivoltaic site, illustrating how agricultural production and solar energy generation can coexist on the same land. Credit: Eric Bronson.

Balancing Energy and Agriculture

From a broader perspective, the stakes are only growing. That is why AFT continues to advance a Smart Solar℠ approach, one that recognizes the need to scale solar energy development while also safeguarding the land base, supporting farm viability, and ensuring communities have a meaningful voice in the process.

“America needs both thriving farms and more affordable pathways to growing the capacity of our power grid. Across the country, AFT is working with farmers and partners in the solar sector who are interested in forging win-win solutions that advance farm viability, increase farmer incomes, and improve the resilience of our energy systems,” said Ethan Winter, National Smart Solar Director for AFT. “Virginia is among the leading states that are working toward constructive, integrated approaches to elevate and empower farmers in this urgent energy transition.”

Though agrivoltaics can be part of the solution, farmers themselves have made clear that success depends on how projects are designed, constructed, and decommissioned, where they are sited, whether agriculture truly remains viable, and how well they reflect local priorities.

This legislation signals an important step toward aligning energy and agricultural policy in Virginia. The work ahead lies in ensuring outcomes that keep productive farmland in farming while supporting farm viability and meeting the region’s growing energy needs.

American Farmland Trust will continue working with farmers, partners, and policymakers across the country to help make that balance possible. We welcome continued dialogue with farmers, communities, and partners. To learn about AFT’s Smart Solar program and how we can help your farm or community, please contact Ethan Winter.