As Arizona and other parts of the Southwest face rising temperatures, farmers are turning to agrivoltaics—the practice of growing crops under solar panels—as a way to reduce heat stress on plants, cut water use, and generate clean energy. Researchers have found that the shade provided by solar arrays not only improves crop yields and flavor but also cools the panels, boosting their efficiency. While early skepticism and high upfront costs remain barriers, successful examples like Jack’s Solar Garden in Colorado demonstrate its promise. Supporters argue agrivoltaics allows farmland to remain productive for generations to come.
