On Agrivoltaics!
Special Guest Speaker Chad Higgins, associate professor of biological and ecological engineering at Oregon State University, will present on his leading research in Agrivoltaics. Combining food production with solar energy generation can improve farm yields, reduce water use and increase energy generation. In a 2023 article, Chad estimated that “converting just 1% of American farmland to agrivoltaics could meet the nation’s renewable energy targets. Making this transition could create new revenue opportunities for family farms facing steep economic challenges.” Chad is using grants from from the Roundhouse Foundation, Oregon Clean Power Cooperative, and Portland General Electric to research solar arrays specifically designed to work with growing crops and grazing animals. Climate Reality PDX is excited to hear the results of Chad’s research, and his recent work in Africa.
Chapter Updates and general discussion will follow the presentation.
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More from Climate Reality Project Portland Chapter:
Check out our initiatives page to find out more about what we’re doing!
Chapter meetings are at 7 pm the third Wednesday of the month. To accommodate members from different parts of the Portland Metro area and beyond, our meetings are primarily on zoom, with in person social events a few times per year.
