Working Group 3: Energy and Agricultural Technologies
Overview
The Energy and Agricultural Technologies Working Group’s mission is to foster innovative practices in U.S.-based large-scale solar project siting, design, construction, and operations to help reduce land-use conflicts, minimize disturbances, and preserve working and natural lands.
Key Deliverables
Deliverable #1: Ag-Ready Guidelines
The Working Group will develop guidelines for large-scale solar development in three agricultural systems: grazing, hay, and specialty crops. The Ag-Ready Guidelines will aim to provide developers with information regarding the use case for large-scale solar development in each of these agricultural systems: when are such projects appropriate and what questions should be addressed in the planning phase. The group will also seek to identify information gaps/needs and potential ways to address them.
Deliverable #2: Ecosystem Services Categorization and Case Studies
The Working Group will develop an annotated list of ecosystem services categories relevant to large-scale solar development in the United States. The list would draw on existing work in this area, with the objective of developing a concise list of ecosystem services categories for endorsement by Solar Uncommon Dialogue participants. The group will also produce short-form case studies, documenting examples of ecosystem services applied at operating large-scale solar projects.
Deliverable #3: Standardized Metrics for Soil Health
Building on existing work on soil health metrics, this Working Group will recommend a standard approach to measuring and monitoring soil health at large-scale solar installations for endorsement by Solar Uncommon Dialogue participant organizations. The group will begin by assessing existing soil health metrics relevant to large-scale U.S. solar development and notable barriers to widespread adoption of these metrics. The group will coordinate with other relevant efforts.
Project Timeline
All products will be completed by the end of 2026 and made available to the public in early 2027.
Resources
Working Group Co-Chairs
Ethan Winter – American Farmland Trust
Deron Lawrence – Longroad Energy
Daphne Condon – UC Davis