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Bill

SB 2371

RELATING TO AGRIVOLTAICS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kurt Fevella and 1 co-sponsor

Hawaii establishes agrivoltaics framework allowing simultaneous solar energy generation and agricultural use on same lands to expand renewable energy while preserving farmland.

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao, DeCorte.
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Bill Summary · SB 2371

Legislative bill overview

SB 2371 establishes legal and regulatory frameworks for agrivoltaics—the simultaneous use of land for both solar energy generation and agricultural production—in Hawaii. The bill passed three committee reviews with amendments and is designed to clarify how these dual-use systems can operate within the state's agricultural and energy policies.

Why is this important

Agrivoltaics addresses Hawaii's competing needs for renewable energy expansion and agricultural land preservation by allowing productive use of the same land area. This is particularly significant for Hawaii, which relies heavily on imported energy and food, offering potential economic and sustainability benefits while reducing pressure to convert agricultural lands exclusively to solar farms.

Potential points of contention

  • Agricultural land use definitions: Determining what constitutes legitimate agricultural production under solar panels may create disputes between energy developers and farmers, particularly regarding crop yield requirements
  • Land value and lease negotiations: Agrivoltaic arrangements could create competitive bidding pressure on agricultural land, potentially disadvantaging small farms unable to negotiate solar lease agreements
  • Regulatory oversight complexity: Requiring coordination between agriculture, energy, and land use agencies may create bureaucratic ambiguity about which department has final authority over land use decisions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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