PLYMOUTH – The Marshall County Plan Commission got a crash course in agrivoltaics in their Thursday night meeting.
Agrivoltaics (also called agrisolar or dual-use solar) is the simultaneous use of land for both agricultural production and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation. It addresses land-use conflicts by turning traditional competitors into mutually beneficial systems. Some in use are livestock grazing – primarily sheep – crop cultivation or pollinator habitats.
The practice is not included in the current county ordianance on solar energy systems and Plan Director Nick Witwer, suggested that the Commission add the term to the current ordinance, while the Commission continues to work on changing that ordinance.
Another concern for the practice was brought up as well.
The Commission unanimously added the term to the current ordinance.
