Study Explores Attitudes and Barriers to Agrivoltaics

University of Maryland researchers published a study in Energy Policy on the attitudes and practices that shape agrivoltaic application in the Mid-Atlantic region. Scientists surveyed people in Montgomery County, Maryland, a densely populated area with conflict between increased solar energy production and farmland preservation. They found that framing agrivoltaics as a tool for farmland preservation was key to improving public opinion regarding it. The study also revealed public confusion about what practices qualify as agrivoltaics and the demonstrated effectiveness of solar installations on operations that produce field crops. In addition, researchers determined that adoption of agrivoltaics could be increased with policies that expand grid access, shorten permitting timelines, ease siting restrictions, and ensure clear decommissioning plans to protect landowners.