Duel Use Solar and Farming - Agrivoltaics
Michaud Law Group leads the way, helping our clients implement agrivoltaics for their solar projects. Agrivoltaics is the co-location of productive and ecologically beneficial land use with the siting of solar energy: agriculture + photovoltaics. In practice, agrivoltaics can take many forms, including the creation of pollinator habitat, solar grazing, or even crop production, where crops are grown within the footprint of the solar project. Making the most of solar sites using agrivoltaics creates resilient income for American farmers and restores ecological wealth.
The firm’s energy and environmental attorney team is experienced in helping our clients deploy agrivoltaics on farmland, significantly increasing the availability of suitable sites for solar. For example, We successfully developed Connecticut’s first large-scale pollinator-friendly solar project in Bethlehem, CT. In 2020, we committed that every future firm solar project would feature dual use, whether habitat for pollinators, solar grazing, or other agrivoltaic solutions on the forefront. We partner long-term with local companies that create pollinator habitats on solar sites. We also partner with local companies that utilize sheep grazers, supporting the next generation of small farms.
The deployment of agrivoltaics allows multi-generational farmers to keep their land and adapt to changing economics. While developers have unique considerations depending on what form of agriculture will occur under or around panels, the firm successfully advises them to tackle the complexities of developing sustainable, productive agrivoltaic systems. We are enthusiastic about helping our solar developer and landowner clients design solar projects that maximize the benefits for surrounding ecosystems and local communities. Guided by our core values of innovation, curiosity, and integrity, Michaud Law Group is excited to explore emerging techniques for dual-use solar projects to benefit our clients.