Blue State Steps Up To Save Farmers With Solar Power

The article highlights New Jersey's pioneering "Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program," a three-year initiative designed to support farmers by integrating solar power generation with traditional farming practices. This program aims to provide farmers with a new revenue stream while allowing them to continue cultivating their land, addressing challenges faced by US farmers amid ongoing economic pressures. The pilot focuses on agrivoltaics—also known as dual-use solar—which combines solar energy production with agricultural activities to maximize land use efficiency. Agrivoltaics encompasses various approaches, including habitat restoration that benefits pollinators, solar grazing where livestock such as sheep manage vegetation under solar panels, and growing crops beneath solar arrays. These methods not only reduce costs for solar developers but also improve soil health and livestock quality. However, widespread adoption requires more evidence demonstrating that combining solar and farming yields greater overall value than separating these uses. This is especially critical in New Jersey, where farm sizes are small and shrinking, making efficient land use essential. The New Jersey pilot program, administered