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About the Episode:

Dan French, Executive Producer of the Solar Farm Summit, recently highlighted the benefits and challenges of agrivoltaics - the combination of agriculture and solar power generation. French outlined how this approach could boost crop yields, improve soil health, and support pollinators, while also acknowledging obstacles such as high initial costs and policy barriers. He stressed the importance of community engagement for successful solar project approval. Citing his experience at BP, French noted the potential to apply lessons from brownfield redevelopment to solar. Finally, he envisioned agrivoltaics spurring a renaissance in agricultural and land use alongside the clean energy transition.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Dan French on LinkedIn

Check out Solar Farm Summit on LinkedIn, Twitter, and its website

Podcasts Mentioned:

SMP 46: Why Brownfields are Ideal Sites for Solar?

Articles & Links Mentioned:

Agrivoltaics bill introduced in May 2023: SB 1778

SFS Agrivoltaics Index - links to all of the great nonprofits mentioned during the show

Register For The Virginia Solar Summit 2023 Summer Shindig

Videos:

A Big People Problem is Already Bottlenecking the Solar Energy Boom's Potential

Dan’s keynote at 2018 OK Brownfields Conference

Key Takeaways:

1. The Promise of Agrivoltaics: Combining solar energy and agriculture (agrivoltaics) can result in increased crop yields, improved soil health, and pollinator habitats, making it a promising avenue for sustainable development.
2. Applying the 'Brownfield Playbook': Strategies used in brownfield redevelopment, such as engaging stakeholders and defining end goals, can be effectively applied to solar development.
3. Community Engagement is Key: Successful implementation of solar projects requires active community engagement. The benefits of agrivoltaics can help address local concerns and gain support.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Critical Path
by Buckminster Fuller

Meditations
by Marcus Aurelius

Storyworthy
by Mathew Dicks

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ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.

Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.

You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.

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