Pre-Conference Cattlevoltaics Workshop 11/5

‘Cattlevoltaics’ combines solar energy production with cattle grazing beneath photovoltaic arrays. Across the country, some cattlevoltaics projects are already in operation, but solar cattle grazing is still a new approach. To scale up cattlevoltaics and maximize its market potential for ranchers and energy production, we must address real and perceived barriers to deploying cattlevoltaics. 

The voices of cattlemen, agricultural and community leaders, and industry are all needed to ensure that cattlevoltaics projects can deliver for agricultural communities in Oklahoma and beyond. To that end, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is hosting a pre-conference workshop on Nov. 5th, the day prior to the Oklahoma Solar Summit program. This limited-capacity, collaborative brainstorm will include structured discussion among a select group of different stakeholders to document varying perspectives about co-locating cattle operations and solar energy production and ideas to ensure that cattlevoltaics projects support a broader basket of conservation and community benefits.

Qualitative and quantitative data collection during this workshop will inform analysis of key beliefs and attitudes, perceived opportunities and barriers, and interest level in cattlevoltaics. This workshop is part of a series of workshops designed by TNC in collaboration with Cornell University, to engage agricultural producers, community leaders, and industry across different regions in the U.S. to build a deeper understanding of the opportunity landscape for ranchers, communities, and cattlevoltaics.