About the AgriSolar Clearinghouse

The AgriSolar Clearinghouse is a nationwide hub developed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology to connect businesses, landowners, and researchers with trusted resources to support the growth of co-located solar and sustainable agriculture, also known as agrisolar or agrivoltaic development.  

We believe that by co-locating solar and agriculture, we can harvest the sun twice, expand clean energy opportunities in rural America, improve farm profitability, create thriving solar ecosystems, increase community resilience, and help keep farmer lands in farmers’ hands.

Solar developments will cover over 3 million acres of land in the next ten years. If these lands become energy-only production it will impact farms, habitat, soil health, and communities. When designed and managed with best practices, agrisolar can:

  • Diversify farm revenue,
  • Increase rural energy independence,
  • Decrease crop irrigation by half,
  • Increase solar panel efficiency,
  • Promote grazing as vegetation management,
  • Increase soil organic matter and carbon accrual,
  • Improve ecosystem health,
  • Support native species, and
  • Triple local pollinators like bees, butterflies, birds, and bats.

Staff, Partners, and Stakeholders

Meet NCAT’s AgriSolar Clearinghouse Team

NCAT’s team of agrisolar experts are ready to provide technical assistance, develop best practices, disseminate trusted research, lead field trips, and create publications, case studies, webinars, podcast, and films to support the agrisolar community. 

Stacie Peterson, PhD

Stacie Peterson, PhD

Energy Program Director; AgriSolar Clearinghouse Program Manager, NCAT
Anna Adair

Anna Adair

Energy Analyst, NCAT
Marisa Larson

Marisa Larson

LIHEAP Clearinghouse Manager, NCAT
Laura Howe

Laura Howe

Senior Engineer, NCAT
Chris Lent

Chris Lent

Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, NCAT
Cody Brown

Cody Brown

Carbon Farm Planner, NCAT
Allen Puckett

Allen Puckett

Technical Writer, NCAT
Carl Bernsten

Carl Bernsten

Energy Engineer, NCAT
Luz Ballesteros Gonzalez

Luz Ballesteros Gonzalez

Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, NCAT
Carl Little

Carl Little

Energy Analyst, NCAT

Meet the AgriSolar Partners

Our partners include the leading experts in AgriSolar in the country. They are here to provide cutting-edge research, technical assistance, facilitate relationships, and develop best practices media.

Nick Armentrout

Nick Armentrout

President of the Board of Directors for The American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) and Project Manager at Agrivoltaic Solutions LLC
Greg Barron-Gafford, PhD

Greg Barron-Gafford, PhD

Agrivoltaic Expert

Greg Barron-Gafford
PhD, Biogeographer

Alexis Pascaris

Alexis Pascaris

Agrivoltaic Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Jordan Macknick

Jordan Macknick

Lead Energy-Water-Land Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Lee Walston

Lee Walston

Ecologist; Argonne National Laboratory
Phal Mantha

Phal Mantha

Director of Agriculture and Sustainability; Ridge to Reefs
Emily Griffith

Emily Griffith

Oregon Policy Manager, Renewable Northwest
Rob Davis

Rob Davis

Agrivoltaics and Science Communication Expert
Rebecca Efroymson, PhD

Rebecca Efroymson, PhD

Distinguished Scientist, Environmental Sciences Division; Oak Ridge National Lab
Amy Johnson, PhD

Amy Johnson, PhD

Conservation Ecologist and Program Director; Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes
Heidi Kolbeck-Urlacher

Heidi Kolbeck-Urlacher

Policy Manager, Center for Rural Affairs
Iara Lacher, PhD

Iara Lacher, PhD

Landscape Ecologist; Conservation Futures, LLC.
Kevin Richardson

Kevin Richardson

Outreach Coordinator, American Solar Grazing Association
Makenna Sellers

Makenna Sellers

Executive Director; Montana Renewable Energy Association
Scott Sklar

Scott Sklar

Energy Director; George Washington University Environment & Energy Management
Paul Sturm

Paul Sturm

Executive Director; Ridge to Reefs
Chris Terrell

Chris Terrell

CEO, Co-founder; Wexus Technologies

Meet the AgriSolar Stakeholders

Our stakeholder group serves as a review board for the Clearinghouse. It includes leading experts in solar grazing, pollinator habitat, farmland conservation, agrivoltaics, and rural affairs. 

 

Kathryn Beros

Kathryn Beros

Columbia University
Peter S. Berthelsen

Peter S. Berthelsen

Director, Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund
Derrick Chapman

Derrick Chapman

Co-founder, DC Power Plants
Savannah Crichton

Savannah Crichton

Research Professional
Alex DePillis

Alex DePillis

Senior Agriculture Development Coordinator, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets
Jessica Fox

Jessica Fox

Senior Technical Executive, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Lexie Hain

Lexie Hain

Agrivoltaics and Land Management, Lightsource BP
Chuck Hassebrook

Chuck Hassebrook

Vice President for Project Development, Sandhills Energy
Sonja Howle

Sonja Howle

COO and Realtor, GeoRanch
Daron Joffe

Daron Joffe

Founder and CEO, Farmer D Consulting
Emma Kampherbeek

Emma Kampherbeek

Trainee Energy Transition, Province of Overijssel, Netherlands
Knowledge Murphy

Knowledge Murphy

Western Solar Specialist, American Farmland Trust
David Murray

David Murray

Solar Policy Director, American Clean Power Association
Brian Naughton

Brian Naughton

Co-Founder, Circle Two LLC
Christopher Pike

Christopher Pike

Research Scientist at the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jesse Puckett

Jesse Puckett

Senior Manager for Sustainability Projects, Enel North America

Cody Smith

Cody Smith

Community Resilience Coordinator, Environmental Resilience Institute at Indiana University
Shannon Scarborough

Shannon Scarborough

Greenbacker Capitol
Lucy Stolzenburg

Lucy Stolzenburg

Texas Solar Energy Society
Ethan Winter

Ethan Winter

National Smart Solar Director, American Farmland Trust