B03: Rethinking Solar Developments for Conservation: Agrivoltaics and Dual-Use Solar
To keep the family farm, Jack's Solar Garden was built in 2020 in Boulder County, Colorado. It is a 1.2 MW (4 acre) solar array elevated higher than normal to accommodate people, trucks, tractors, animals and vegetation. It is now a national model for integrating agricultural practices within a solar array including research into ecosystem services and grassland ecology conducted by local universities. This session details how and why this solar array was built, the finances around it, the research findings on how solar panels reduce irrigation needs for vegetables and grasses, and showcases the possibilities of integrating solar on working and conservation easement lands. Attendees will takeaway a new appreciation for how solar arrays can be built for the betterment of lands instead of at its detriment.
Session Location: Oregon Convention Center
