Doral Renewables Partners with American Farmland Trust to Expand Smart Solar℠ Initiative
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PHILADELPHIA, June 5, 2025 ~ Doral Renewables LLC (Doral) and American Farmland Trust (AFT) have announced a new partnership that aims to promote innovation and sustainability in farming communities across the United States. This long-term collaboration will support AFT's Smart Solar initiative, which seeks to address the growing need for renewable energy while also protecting farmland and promoting sound farming practices.

According to recent estimates, more than 10 million acres of land will be required to meet America's renewable energy goals by 2050. This development is expected to take place primarily on agricultural lands, with 80% of it being used for solar projects. However, this partnership between Doral and AFT aims to ensure that this development is done in a way that benefits both the environment and farmers.

AFT, a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting farmland and supporting farmers, is a leader in agriculturally compatible solar development. Through this partnership, AFT and Doral hope to further solutions that not only promote long-term farm viability but also scale up domestic energy generation. The work will be guided by AFT's Smart Solar principles, which focus on three key goals: safeguarding land suitable for agriculture, strengthening farm viability, and accelerating solar energy development.

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Ed Baptista, Vice President of Development and Agrivoltaics at Doral Renewables, expressed the company's commitment to supporting farmers through their energy development projects. He stated that their number one principle has always been to provide farmer-friendly solutions that maximize land-use, diversify revenue streams, drive economic development, and allow farmers to return to traditional farming practices. Baptista believes that partnering with AFT is a natural step forward as they continue their efforts towards sustainable energy solutions.

One of the key aspects of this partnership will be the implementation of agrivoltaics systems - the intentional combination of agriculture and solar energy generation on the same piece of land for the life of a project. This approach not only allows for the continued production of food and fiber but also has numerous environmental benefits, such as improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and providing habitat for wildlife.

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Ethan Winter, AFT's National Smart Solar Director, emphasized the importance of partnerships like this in investing in the future of agrivoltaics and long-term farm viability. He stated that America needs both renewable energy and productive, resilient farms and ranches, making collaborations between industry leaders like Doral and AFT crucial.

Both Doral and AFT are excited to work together to build networks that will allow solar energy and agriculture to thrive together for the benefit of the planet, farmers, and farming communities. This partnership marks a significant step towards a more sustainable future for both energy production and agriculture in the United States.
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