Announcing New $1M+ USDA Grant to Fund research and stakeholder engagement on Agrivoltaics in Arizona

Kudos to the Udall Center’s Interim Director, Andrea Gerlak, and her colleagues in the School of Geography, Development and Environment, Greg Barron-Gafford (a 2020-21 Udall Center Fellow) and Moses Thompson, who were all featured in UA News for their recently awarded U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant in support of agrivoltaic research, part of a new multi-institutional $10M USDA grant ($1.725 million scope at UArizona) called 'Sustainably Colocating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems' (SCAPES). Greg is the UArizona physical science lead for the project, Andrea is the deputy director of the project's social science research, and Moses will be heading up the education component. 
 

Greg served a Udall Center fellowship in spring 2021 researching the potential for co-locating renewable energy and agriculture from a socioecological perspective. In his public presentation, Greg explains the concepts of SCAPES and the research he and his team conducted around expanded photovoltaic (PV+) systems and incorporating agriculture to harness the benefits of both food and energy production while also conserving water.

Congratulations to all, and for the exciting work ahead in our Arizona community.