Studies & Stories

Jack's Solar Garden in Longmont, Colorado, is a leading agrivoltaics project combining solar energy production with agricultural research and community engagement. Spanning 24 acres, it supports crop growth beneath solar panels, fosters pollinator habitats, and provides renewable energy to local households while serving as an educational hub for sustainable practices.

Solar Harvest, an agrivoltaics research and community solar project near Portland, Oregon, integrates large-scale farming with utility-scale solar. A collaboration between the Oregon Clean Power Cooperative and Oregon State University, it conducts rigorous research comparing crops under solar panels to those in open fields. The project supports local schools, powers nearby communities, and advances studies on soil, pollinators, forage crops, and wildlife.

This agrivoltaics project combines commercial farming with solar energy on Joe Czajkowski's third-generation farm in the Pioneer Valley. The 445kW DC array powers the farm, provides energy to 17 low-income subscribers, and meets MA SMART Program standards. Seamlessly integrated with Joe's farming practices, it showcases successful farmer-developer collaboration with plans for more agrivoltaic projects.

Big River Farms, a Minnesota-based nonprofit supporting immigrant farmers, has successfully integrated solar energy with farming practices by utilizing solar arrays that also support pollinator habitats. This collaboration between solar developers, contractors and community leaders ensures long-term land access for farmers, enriching the soil and fostering healthy ecosystems while providing a stable livelihood for immigrant farmers.

The Black Cat Agrivoltaics Project in Massachusetts integrates cranberry farming with solar energy by placing panels above crops, optimizing land use. This approach generates clean energy, conserves water with shade, and, with added energy storage, ensures a reliable energy supply for both agriculture and clean energy.

The Montgomery Sheep Farm in Biscoe, North Carolina, showcases how solar farms can integrate agriculture, agritourism, and rural hospitality. Hosting over 500 animals and powered by a mix of on-site solar arrays and Tesla batteries, the farm supports livestock grazing, clean energy education, and community events while maintaining its commitment to sustainable practices and animal welfare standards.

The Mammoth Solar Project in Indiana is a 13,000-acre facility combining renewable energy production with agrivoltaics and pollinator habitat, supporting crops like popcorn, hay, and melons, alongside livestock such as sheep and pigs. This $1.5 billion project will generate 1.3 GW of power, enough for 275,000 homes, and is backed by long-term agreements with major industry leaders, highlighting its impact on both energy and agriculture.

The Skipjack Solar Project in Charles City, Virginia, generates over 350,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy annually while incorporating dual-use innovations like sheep and goat grazing for sustainable land management. This approach supports agricultural activity, promotes land stewardship, and provides an additional revenue source for the community.

The Houston Solar Farm in Elko, Georgia, integrates solar energy with regenerative grazing, addressing challenges in the Southeastern sheep industry while restoring land health. Through Silicon Ranch’s $110M investment and Regenerative Energy® platform, the project generates clean power for 11,000 Georgia homes annually, supports local jobs and tax revenues, and pioneers efforts to strengthen the U.S. sheep industry and sustainable farming under solar panels.