| Resource Type | Webinar |
| Author / Source | Co-op Innovation Network |
| Publication Date | March 2026 |
| Location | Multi-state (GA, TN, CO, MN); framework applicable nationally |
| Initiative Type | Technology, Partnership, Program |
| Project Complexity | Intermediate |
| Recommended For | Board, Staff |
Estimated viewing time: 50 minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
Agrivoltaics offers co-ops a way to expand local solar generation while preserving agricultural land use, addressing one of the most common siting and permitting barriers in rural service territories. The webinar surfaces proven, commercial-scale projects already serving cooperatives, giving boards real evidence rather than pilot-stage speculation when weighing land-use tradeoffs.
For co-ops navigating member concerns about farmland conversion or facing local planning resistance, agrivoltaic design can transform a permitting risk into a community-aligned project. Co-op leaders can use this resource to inform RFP language, evaluate developers, and shape early conversations with members and local planning bodies.
Key Takeaways
| › | Effective RFPs describe values like land stewardship and vegetation retention rather than naming "agrivoltaics" outright, letting developers compete on delivery. |
| › | Sheep grazing offsets mowing costs and pollinator habitat replaces gravel, helping well-designed agrivoltaic projects achieve costs comparable to standard solar. |
| › | Voluntary member contribution programs, modeled on La Plata Electric and Holy Cross Energy, can fund agricultural land support through small per-member amounts. |
| › | Local permitting requirements can drive better project outcomes, as shown when DMEA's Garnet Mesa Solar was redesigned after county rejection. |
Implementation Considerations
- Cost or Funding Requirements: Agrivoltaic projects are most cost-competitive when designed in from the start, though retrofits and higher-cost designs remain viable when supported by voluntary member programs or aligned co-op priorities.
- Regulatory or Governance Considerations: Local planning commissions can substantially shape project design. Co-ops should engage planners, farmers, and irrigation districts early rather than at the end of permitting.
Notable Examples
- Silicon Ranch: Operates nearly 4 GW of solar nationally and runs the Regenerative Energy Program, which integrates sheep, cattle, and beekeeping with solar generation across cooperative-served projects in Georgia and Tennessee.
- Delta Montrose Electric Association: Partnered with developers on the 80 MW Garnet Mesa Solar Project, which became agrivoltaic after Delta County's planning commission required redesign and now hosts 600 sheep across 380 acres.
- Jack's Solar Garden and the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center: Run a 1.2 MW community solar array in Longmont, Colorado that doubles as a research site for crop, livestock, and pollinator pairings.
- US Solar's Big Lake Solar Project: Located in Minnesota, hosts seven farmers growing vegetables between rows, providing land access to Somali and Hmong community members alongside University of Minnesota research.
Estimated viewing time: 50 minutes
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