We’ve all seen fields of solar panels on wide open spaces, and you’ve probably assumed that solar power and farming is an either/or situation: you can’t have both at the same time. But what if you could…
Agrivoltaics is when solar panels are installed on farms in a way that is compatible with continuing to use the land to grow crops (or raise livestock). It’s sometimes also called “dual-use solar.” In a place like New Jersey, with big ambitions for a carbon-free economy and lots of farms that could benefit from an extra source of income (or lower costs), agrivoltaics may be part of the answer.
The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program is working with farmers and state agencies in New Jersey to explore opportunities to grow the use of agrivoltaics in a way that benefits farmers, rural communities, and the broader environment. As a social scientist on the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Committee, I’m focused on examining issues of public perception, farming practices, and farm economics. New Jersey can be a leader in making agriculture an essential part of a carbon-free future.