We've had a busy season showcasing agrivoltaics here at the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center and Jack’s Solar Garden! Our educational programming, community collaborations, and policy outreach have grown in great ways; forging new relationships, strengthening existing ones, and inspiring people of all walks of life.

 

Scroll down to read about upcoming events and some of what we have been up to recently. 

 

With love, from the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center team.

The 2025 tour season at Jack’s Solar Garden has come to a close. We enjoyed getting to share about agrivoltaics with so many wonderful, engaged visitors and look forward to 2026! Public tours will start up again in the spring. You can find out about our Private Tours here as you begin planning for next year!

 

Keep an eye out on our events calendar and future newsletters for our 2026 offerings!

 

 

 

 

Join us for a showing of a new documentary film that was created by Free Range Films in collaboration with the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center, with funding from the Walton Family Foundation. Save the Farm, Save the Future explores how Colorado farmers are confronting drought, rising costs, and climate pressures by turning to agrivoltaics — the combination of solar energy and agriculture. The film asks whether this innovative approach can sustain farming livelihoods while supporting the transition to renewable energy.

 

Check out the trailer here!

Save the date: November 20th from 1pm-2.30pm Mountain Time!

As a reminder, all of our free webinars are recorded! You can find recordings for all webinars from 2023, 2024, and 2025 here.

 

In September CALC continued our roadshow series with a visit to Pueblo County. The trip focused on building new partnerships with agricultural, solar, and government organizations and individuals to support future agrivoltaic initiatives. We met with local government officials, conservation and agricultural organizations. We also visited the Arkansas Valley research Center in Rocky Ford, and Xcel's utility scale solar Rocky Mountain and Arroyo projects under construction by Mortensen - thank you to all who hosted us for their time and resources!

Our Education and Policy Manager, Allison Jackson also got the chance to present to the Pueblo Board of County Commissioners on our Land Use Code Guidance, which was warmly received.

 

CALC will continue hosting these roadshows in counties across Colorado to serve as an agrivoltaics resource for all.

In August, our community gathered for Pollinator Palooza, a fun and educational celebration of the tiny creatures that make a big impact! Guests toured the farm, discovered how pollinators keep our ecosystems thriving, and learned directly from local experts about the vital role insects play in food and farming. Kids especially loved meeting real-life bugs up close, making the day both hands-on and memorable. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating the hardworking pollinators that help keep our community blooming!

Field trip season is in full swing! In August and September we were busy bringing hands-on science to students — both on the farm and in their own classrooms.

 

We visited two classrooms along the Front Range where we facilitated activities for teachers such as a soil compaction lab, helping kids explore how soil health impacts plants. Back at the farm, we welcomed six field trips, where students tried their hand at iNaturalist logging to discover insect population patterns, tinkered with solar technology, and created beautiful cyanotype prints. We also took part in the global Sun Day celebrations in Denver and Boulder, sharing how agrivoltaics can help farmers grow food and clean energy together.

The SALSA program is gearing up for an exciting 2026 season, with an expanding portfolio of solar sites now available to support new agribusinesses rooted in clean energy and land stewardship. We’ve also launched a refreshed web page that makes it easier than ever to explore program details, values, and how to get involved.

 We’re still accepting cohort members for the upcoming season.

If you're a grower, rancher, or food entrepreneur ready to build your vision under solar panels, we’d love to connect.

Reach out to Carolita at carolita@coagrivoltaic.org to learn more.

Finally, Thank You To Our Donors!