Farmers across the U.S. are navigating an increasingly complex operating environment, marked by rising costs, unpredictable markets, and mounting climate pressures. In response, agrivoltaics—integrating solar energy production with ongoing agricultural use—has emerged as a practical path to diversify income without taking land out of production.
Rather than choosing between food and energy, agrivoltaics allows farmers to do both. Panels are designed to share space with crops or livestock, enabling continued agricultural output while generating clean energy. This dual-use model is now moving from pilot projects to commercially scalable deployments, providing new options for farmers and developers alike.
In Massachusetts, several agrivoltaic sites are now demonstrating how this model can work in practice. A 34-acre development spanning the towns of Palmer and Dighton, for example, has delivered 5.7 megawatts of solar capacity while keeping local farms active. Family-run Burgundy Brook Farm and another local operation partnered on these installations, continuing agricultural activities beneath and around the panels while gaining additional income from long-term lease agreements.
Such projects underscore a market shift: solar developers and landowners increasingly seek designs that preserve agricultural continuity. Farmers are wary of projects that take land fully out of production; they are more receptive to solutions that align with their long-term goals.
From the developer side, companies with agricultural expertise or partnerships are well-positioned to lead. Successful projects often require flexibility in system layout, careful siting to accommodate equipment access, and a shared understanding of seasonal land management needs. Agrivoltaics also helps mitigate growing community pushback against large-scale solar by offering a visibly productive use of the land.
For landowners, agrivoltaic leases provide a hedge against commodity price volatility and climate-related risks—both key concerns for multi-generational farming operations. The added income stream can help fund operational upgrades or succession planning, making farms more resilient.
From an investment perspective, the agrivoltaics segment is attracting institutional capital seeking long-duration, stable returns. Infrastructure investors value the predictability of long-term power purchase agreements combined with agricultural leases. As the sector matures, investors are moving beyond traditional utility-scale models to back projects that integrate with local economies.
Certified B Corporations and other developers with an ESG focus are finding alignment with these trends, as agrivoltaic projects can satisfy multiple sustainability criteria. The challenge now is scaling the model while respecting its local nuances—no two farms or regions are exactly alike.
