Tensions often arise in rural communities as utility-scale solar installations replace formerly productive farms. Agriculture and renewable energy can co-exist, however, through arrays that allow crops and grazing underneath solar arrays. And now Virginia code has an official definition for it, paving the way for solar and farmland to work together.
This legislation defines agrivoltaics as the intentional co-location of agricultural production and solar panels on the same land designed to maintain farm productivity and output while also generating renewable energy. It also convenes an agrivoltaics project advisory panel through Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Department of Energy to identify ways to further agrivoltaics projects.
HB508 passed out of the House 67-31 with Republican Delegates Buddy Fowler, Tom Garrett, Justin Pence and Wren Williams joining Democrats. SB340 cleared the Senate on a vote of 27-13. Gov. Spanberger signed both bills into law