Connecticut’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy defines goals to mitigate environmental impacts of energy use, which includes rapidly expanded renewable energy programs through more robust policies, legislative actions, and best practices. The expansion of solar energy in Connecticut, both distributed generation and large-scale projects, presents opportunities and challenges for landowners, farmers, local communities, and policymakers alike. To keep farms viable and to protect the remaining 347,100 acres of Connecticut farmland, rigorous planning, smart solar policies, and community engagement will be needed to inform solar development.

American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) Smart Solar℠ in Connecticut project builds on several years of strategic engagement with solar and agricultural stakeholders in New England and the Northeast. In a new report, AFT summarizes findings from a statewide farmer survey, roundtables with state agencies and solar developers, and expert input from AFT's project advisory committee. In addition, the report provides high-level recommendations for advancing Smart Solar in Connecticut with an eye toward farmland protection, market incentives, and cross-sector collaboration to advance dual use/agrivoltaics on farmland. 

Join AFT’s smart solar director, Ethan Winter, and Alexis Pascaris, co-author of the report and founding director of AgriSolar Consulting, to discuss key findings and recommendations from the report, with time for audience questions.

Our special guests, Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes, will kick off the webinar with brief remarks.  Following AFT's presentation, Joan Nichols and Amanda Fargo-Johnson will share reflections on behalf of the Connecticut Farm Bureau and Connecticut Farm Energy Program.      

The full report can be found here.