On a Colorado farm, solar panels bring shade for plants, power – and cash: in pictures
Summary
Byron Kominek uses solar panels on his Colorado farm to grow crops and produce electricity at the same time, a method called agrovoltaics. This approach helps protect plants from extreme weather and provides steady income by selling solar power to a utility company.Key Facts
- The farm has 3,276 solar panels integrated with growing crops and raising animals.
- Agrovoltaics means combining solar energy production with farming activities.
- The solar panels create protective shade that helps crops like flaxseed and berries survive heat and frost.
- The farm generates 2 gigawatt hours of electricity yearly, sold to a local utility company.
- The solar income covers the farm’s basic costs, letting Kominek try growing different crops.
- The farm also raises ducks, geese, chickens, and keeps beehives.
- Kominek works with university researchers to find the best ways to farm under solar panels.
- He says expanding power lines to rural areas would help more farmers use solar panels alongside their crops.
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