Solar panels help Colorado farm protect crops from heat and generate power

A farm in Colorado is demonstrating how agriculture and renewable energy can thrive on the same piece of land. According to an exclusive report by The Guardian, Jack's Solar Garden near Longmont has transformed traditional farmland into a pioneering agrivoltaic project where crops are grown beneath solar panels. The panels not only generate clean electricity but also create cooler microclimates that help plants withstand rising temperatures while providing farmers with an additional source of income.Farming and solar power side by sideWhen Byron Kominek returned to his family's 24-acre farm outside Longmont, Colorado, in 2016, he noticed the effects of a warming climate. Hotter summers and declining rainfall meant the grass traditionally grown for hay and silage was no longer as productive as it had once been.