Virginia Promotes Agrivoltaics to Expand Solar Power While Preserving Farmland

A new Virginia law is intended to encourage the development of agrivoltaics—the practice of combining agriculture with solar energy production—as electricity demand continues to rise alongside concerns about the loss of farmland, Elizabeth Ouzts reported for Canary Media.

Virginia's new agrivoltaics law encourages the combined use of farmland for agriculture and solar energy generation.

Virginia, home to one of the world's largest concentrations of data centers, faces rapidly growing electricity demand that could increase power costs and require additional energy generation.

At the same time, the state is losing farmland at one of the fastest rates in the United States.

State leaders believe both challenges can be addressed by allowing agricultural production and solar power generation to coexist on the same land.

The new law formally defines agrivoltaics, providing a legal framework for projects that integrate crops or livestock with solar photovoltaic systems.

Supporters say the approach can expand clean energy production while helping farmers generate additional income. Virginia becomes only the fourth U.S. state to enact legislation specifically recognizing agrivoltaics.

"For years, the conventional wisdom forced us into a zero-sum game, viewing solar panels as a replacement for crops rather than a partner to them," said Josephus Allmond, chief energy officer for Gov. Abigail Spanberger, during the bill signing in Loudoun County.