Virginia recently signed a bill defining agrivoltaics as the co-location of agriculture and solar energy generation on the same land, aiming to expand distributed generation and revitalize fallow farmland. The state's first crop-based agrivoltaics project generated 130% of the farm's energy needs. Projects in Virginia must prioritize agricultural productivity, integrate renewable energy generation, and allow for flexibility to adapt to market conditions. Efforts are being made to revitalize abandoned cropland through grazing projects, with proposed legislation to create a stakeholder advisory panel ensuring meaningful partnerships between the agricultural and solar communities. The goal is to drive economic growth while preserving farmland and incentivizing solar development on brownfields and existing structures.
Virginia defines agrivoltaics, expanding opportunities for solar
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