RESEARCH Fall 2026 21 PHOTO BY OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY HARVESTING THE SUN TWICE Inside the experiment to help farming and solar power work together. By Cathleen Hockman-Wert The grass was greener under solar panels. That simple observation set Oregon State University researcher Chad Higgins on a path to become a global authority in agrivoltaics: the practice of combining solar energy production with agriculture. More than a decade later, OSU is a world leader in this growing field, and Higgins — an associate professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences — is still focused on grass. But now his question is: What conditions always make grass greenest? The answer could be transformative for family farms, rural communities and a world with an exponentially growing demand for food and energy. Blueberries grow between rows of solar panels at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center near Aurora. continues
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