Indiana Land Use Summit: Agrivoltaics and Renewable Energy

The 2026 Indiana Land Use Summit, coordinated by Purdue Extension and the Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future, will focus on renewable energy and agrivoltaics, which involves using the same land for solar energy and agricultural production. The summit will highlight Purdue University's applied research and extension efforts in advancing data-driven, community-engaged approaches to land use planning across Indiana. Through sessions featuring the Indiana Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (IN R‑STEP) program, participants will explore new tools, resources, and research findings supporting utility-scale renewable energy planning. The Midwest Agrivoltaics for Resilient Communities (MARC) initiative will share insights from agrivoltaics design, focus group findings, and resilience modeling that examine how solar infrastructure can coexist with agricultural productivity and microgrid development. The event will include research updates, breakout discussions, and tours of the Agrivoltaics Research Platform at Purdue University's Agronomy Center for Research & Education (ACRE). Attendees will gain practical strategies, technical tools, and evidence-based approaches for addressing emerging land-use challenges and supporting informed decision-making in their communities. Topics covered will include: Research updates on ordinance inventory and property values, Battery energy storage systems, Regulatory tools and planning practices, Choosing a site for agrivoltaics (siting), and Energy and economic resilience of agrivoltaics. The main program session runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET, with networking and tours from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tours of the ACRE site are limited to the first 90 registrants.