Agrivoltaics Open House 4

Stories from the Field: Real-World Agrivoltaics in Action

In this SCAPES Virtual Open House, hosted by the University of Illinois and supported by USDA-NIFA, attendees heard firsthand how agrivoltaics is taking root across the U.S.

Byron Kominek, Executive Director of Jack’s Solar Garden, shared lessons from transforming his family farm into the largest agrivoltaic research site in the country. Christopher Kline, Development Manager at Doral Renewables, discussed Mammoth Solar — the largest solar project in the Western Hemisphere — and its potential to integrate agriculture into large-scale clean energy development.

Led by Dennis Bowman, Extension Lead for the SCAPES project, the discussion highlighted practical insights, site-level realities, and the evolving role of agrivoltaics in climate-smart agriculture. From infrastructure and land-use strategies to grower partnerships and policy considerations, this conversation offers valuable takeaways for farmers, researchers, developers, and energy advocates alike.

🎥 Watch to explore how real people are making agrivoltaics work — and where the future is headed.