Summit Cellars in Palisade is among seven recipients of a total of $500,000 in grants funding projects involving agrivoltaics — the use of land for both solar energy and agricultural production.

Summit Cellars will use the grant to compare soil moisture data under solar panels and in a vineyard.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg announced the winners.

“Colorado’s agriculture industry puts food on tables and helps drive our strong state economy. Agrivoltaics shows us how science and innovation can help Colorado’s bedrock industries take advantage of solar power and will help our hardworking farmers and ranchers get ahead,” Polis said.

Greenberg said the Colorado Department of Agriculture remains committed to promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices as well as sustainable operations for farms and ranches. “We are grateful to be able to support the hard work of our colleagues and producers through agrivoltaic installations, data collection, partnership building and research that informs how we can best grow food, fiber and fuel into the future.”

The grants were provided through state legislation enacted in 2023 and sponsored in part by State Rep. Matt Soper, a Republican from Delta.