Jack's Solar Garden in Longmont, Colorado, has integrated 3,276 solar panels with farming, generating 2 gigawatt hours of electricity annually while shading crops and creating microclimates that boost plant growth. The farm, owned by Byron Kominek, sells the power to a local utility, providing a stable income that covers operational costs.
From struggling farm to solar success
When Byron Kominek took over his family's 24-acre (10-hectare) farm in 2016, he noticed that warmer summers and reduced rainfall were stunting grass grown for silage and hay. Seeking a solution, he turned to agrovoltaics—combining solar power production with agriculture. The $2 million array now powers the farm and partners with university researchers to refine best practices.
Microclimates and diverse crops
The solar panels create shaded microclimates that protect plants from intense heat and frost. Ashley Gilbert, founder of the Foothills Flax Project, noted that flaxseed blossoms thrive under the panels. The farm grows vegetables, raises ducks, geese, and chickens, and maintains a beehive. This spring, Kominek planted 1,500 berry bushes, planning a pick-your-own operation. 'The microclimates of the solar array will help the berries from scalding in our blistering heat,' he said, adding that they are also protected from frost in fall and winter.
Economic and environmental benefits
The solar array provides Kominek with a basic income that covers farm costs, allowing him to experiment with new crops. He believes agrovoltaics could help other cash-strapped farmers if more transmission lines are built to rural areas. 'Our future is going to be more arid,' Kominek said. 'We can plan, build and design ways that'll make it easier for future generations.'
