Peace between solar developers and farmers is possible through the emerging field of agrivoltaics, in which crops share space with solar panels. Though losing some field space, the farmer gets a reliable income from a new kind of energy crop, while continuing to stay in the business of raising plants instead of going bankrupt or selling the land for real estate development. What is lacking is a legislative framework to support and accelerate the transition into agrivoltaics, and the state of Virginia has just come up with a solution. The Virginia Agrivoltaics Solution The new legislation crossed the CleanTechnica radar via an email from the land conservation organization Piedmont Environmental Council. PEC is known for establishing the first crop-based agrivoltaic system in Virginia, located at the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows (pictured above). It’s a relatively small project, but the impact has resonated through the halls of the Virginia state legislature. The word “crop” is significant because at this time, agrivoltaic activity around the US has been largely limited to grazing sheep. As relatively small, efficient grazers, sheep help reduce maintenance costs by keeping vegetation off the panels. They also help condition the soil, conserving it for agricultural use if the panels are ever removed (see more solar grazing background here). Edible crops for humans are a next-level challenge in terms of balancing land use between solar panels and agriculture. The new legislation (SB 340/HB 508) is designed to provide farmers with a reliable, stable platform for making those decisions, while avoiding poorly designed projects. “The topic of agrivoltaics is one that has been top of mind for me for years, because it has always been a question of how is it that we can ensure that our communities–and importantly our farmers–have the ability to keep land in production, but also the option to leverage the technology that can help them offset their on-farm costs and also allow them to be leaders,” Virginia Governor Spanberger explained earlier this week, marking the occasion of a formal bill-signing ceremony. “By establishing clear enforceable definitions of agrivoltaics and code of Virginia, we are protecting farmers. We are making clear that the use of agrivoltaics prioritizes agricultural productivity, keeps land in production for the life of the solar array and is part of an existing farm business,” Spanberger elaborated. A Brief Visit To The Clown Car If agrivoltaics is so good for farmers and their communities, why does Agriculture Secretary Susan Rollins oppose solar panels on farms? That’s a good question. Perhaps she will explain herself someday. Nevertheless, she is in good company. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum doesn’t believe that energy storage systems are actual things that exist in time and space, although energy storage helps farmers optimize their solar resources. As for Energy Secretary Chris Wright, let’s not bother him. He’s too busy to think about new solar solutions that can help farmers stay in business. His attention is focused like a thousand points of light on an effort to keep coal power from sliding into the dustbin of historical irrelevance. Perhaps in an earlier age he would have been among those fighting to save the whale oil industry after low-cost mineral and petroleum oils swept into the market, with just as much success. As for the President himself, rumor has it that his position on solar power has softened. That’s nice, but not nice enough to prevent the steady march of farm bankruptcies. Sell-offs to real estate developers also continue apace, with skyrocketing fuel and fertilizer costs adding to damage done by the President’s willy-nilly tariff wars. That land is forever lost to permanent infrastructure up to and including data centers. Back To The New Agrivoltaics Legislation Where were we? Oh, right. A modern solution to the age-old struggle of keeping a farm in operation. SB 340/HB 508 formally defines agrivoltaics as “the intentional co-location of agricultural production and solar energy generation on the same land,” but it doesn’t stop there. The bill also lists some key qualifiers. The project must complement a farm’s existing business and prioritize agricultural activities, including the sale of products, over the solar array’s lifespan. Solar panels typically last about 25-30 years, so that is a substantial commitment. The system also needs to be designed with flexibility in mind, enabling farmers to respond to changing markets and adapt their operations accordingly. Solar Plus Farming In Action The PEC has been a powerful advocate for forward-looking agricultural energy solutions in Virginia, so its no surprise to see the organization give itself a pat on its back for another successful effort. “Working alongside the Virginia Farm Bureau, PEC helped develop an official definition for agrivoltaics that will ensure dual use solar projects take best management practices into account,” the organization explained in a press statement, while emphasizing that SB 340/HB 508 passed with strong bipartisan support. SB 340/HB 508 also follows 11 other energy bills signed into law with PEC support in one form or another Some of those were authored by PEC, and others were advised or otherwise supported by PEC. “PEC worked on these practical legislative proposals with partners before the 2026 General Assembly session, laying the groundwork for accelerating underutilized small-scale, distributed generation and storage opportunities in Virginia,” PEC explains. That’s quite a track record for one legislative session. However, former Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin was term-limited out of office in November, removing one potential obstacle. Spanberger ran for the office on a clean energy platform and she has been making up for lost ground. Agrivoltaics is just part of the farmer-supporting package. The new batch of legislation also supports on-farm energy storage (sorry, Doug!) and virtual power plants, enabling farmers to earn revenue in collaboration with their local utilities. “When multiple farms, businesses and homes use battery backup, the energy they produce and store together can function as a ‘virtual power plant,’ furthering the potential for decentralized power generation,” PEC adds. “PEC worked on these practical legislative proposals with partners before the 2026 General Assembly session, laying the groundwork for accelerating underutilized small-scale, distributed generation and storage opportunities in Virginia, PEC further emphasizes. The Community Farm itself is a living model for replication, with crops sitting alongside solar panels and a full battery backup system. Kale, lettuce, beets, broccoli, and garlic are among the crops currently in residence. With the solar panels and battery in hand, the farm has had an electricity bill of zero so far this year, and the solar-plus-storage can cover its operations in case the grid goes down. Photo: The Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows is hosting the first ever crop-based agrivoltaics system in Virginia — and it won’t be the last (courtesy of PEC).
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