As solar development expands across U.S. farmland, agrivoltaics is increasingly presented as a way to produce renewable energy while keeping land in agricultural use. But does combining solar and agriculture actually improve community acceptance? A new 2026 study published in Energy Research & Social Science, “Win-win or window dressing? Opportunity and opposition to agrivoltaics in the United States,” explores exactly that question.
Researchers analyzed 395 U.S. news articles covering 66 proposed and operating agrivoltaic projects across 23 states. They found that public perceptions generally fell into three categories: agrivoltaics as a “win-win” for agriculture and communities, a threat to farming and rural character, or an imperfect compromise.
“They found that public perceptions generally fell into three categories: agrivoltaics as a “win-win” for agriculture and communities, a threat to farming and rural character, or an imperfect compromise.”
Key Takeaways:
- Agricultural benefits need to be real and visible. Projects received stronger support when solar helped preserve an existing agricultural activity, created a meaningful new farming opportunity, or helped address challenges such as heat and water scarcity. Conversely, skepticism increased when agricultural use appeared secondary to solar development.
- Local context matters. The study found more favorable coverage in hot western states, where shade and water conservation can provide tangible benefits to crops. In parts of the Northeast, some large solar-grazing projects faced skepticism when communities questioned whether the agricultural benefits justified converting productive farmland.
- Agrivoltaics should be designed as dual-use from the beginning. The researchers found that introducing an agricultural component later in the development process—particularly in response to zoning restrictions or opposition—can create perceptions of greenwashing or “window dressing.”
- Bigger isn’t automatically better (or worse). Larger projects tended to encounter greater community pushback, but the researchers emphasize that there is no universally appropriate project size. Designs should reflect the agricultural landscape, farming practices, and priorities of the surrounding community.
- Community involvement can be as important as system design. Working with local development partners, farmers, and cooperative ownership models can help build trust and ensure that benefits such as food, energy, jobs, or farm income remain meaningful to the community.
From “Dual-Use” to Meaningful Dual-Use
Perhaps the most important lesson is that simply placing agricultural activity alongside solar panels does not automatically create a successful agrivoltaic project. The strongest projects are those where agriculture shapes the solar design, and not where agriculture is adapted afterward to fit the solar project.
That principle also highlights why continued exploration of different solar technologies matters. The researchers note that newer approaches, including bifacial solar fences such as Sunzaun, elevated trackers, and wavelength-selective panels, still require further study to understand the co-benefits they can provide to farmers and communities.
For vertical solar in particular, the opportunity is to think beyond energy generation alone: how might the placement and orientation of the system preserve usable farmland, accommodate existing agricultural practices, or respond to a specific challenge on the farm? As this research suggests, the value of any agrivoltaic design ultimately depends on how well it fits the land, the agricultural activity, and the community around it.
To learn more about how Sunzaun might fit your agricultural operation, contact our team to discuss your site and goals.
Read the full research paper: Win-win or window dressing? Opportunity and opposition to agrivoltaics in the United States, Energy Research & Social Science, 2026.