Bill > S1778

This bill, the Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Act of 2023, requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on agrivoltaic systems, which integrate solar energy production and agricultural production on the same piece of land. The study will examine the regional compatibility of different livestock species and crop types with various agrivoltaic system designs, assess the economic and environmental impacts of these systems, and develop recommendations for incorporating agrivoltaics into federal agricultural, renewable energy, and conservation programs. Based on the study findings, the Secretary will create a 5-year plan to support the development of agrivoltaic systems that do not displace agricultural production. The bill also authorizes the establishment of a network of research and demonstration sites to investigate and showcase agrivoltaic systems in different agricultural regions, with collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and its research and extension programs.