<b>Policy brief.</b> Aligning Agriculture and Energy: A Framework for Leveraging Agrivoltaics in Indiana

<p dir="ltr">Policymakers and rural communities face the dual challenge of meeting rising energy demands while preserving vital agricultural lands. Agrivoltaics—the dual use of land for agricultural activity and solar energy production which is adjusted to local crop types and climate conditions—is uniquely positioned to offer a pathway for clean energy generation without sacrificing valuable farmland. However, current policies in Indiana do not distinguish between agrivoltaic systems and conventional solar installations. </p><p dir="ltr">This brief recommends a three-tiered approach to help lay the groundwork for agrivoltaics deployment and accelerate the uptake of this emerging technology: </p><ul><li>Establish clear standards and definitions for agrivoltaics.</li><li>Develop an incentive structure to prioritize high-performing installations and lower the barrier to entry for farmers. </li><li>Harness Indiana’s research and organizational capacity for multilateral collaboration.</li></ul><p dir="ltr">Schmitt et al. Aligning Agriculture and Energy: A Framework for Leveraging Agrivoltaics in Indiana. Keough School Policy Brief Series. Notre Dame, IN: Keough School of Global Affairs, 2025. https://doi.org/10.7274/29459135</p>