Watch: Farming the Future — The Plains Road AgPV Project Video Documentary Teaser
What is agrivoltaics? Agrivoltaics — also called dual-use solar or solar-plus-farming — is the practice of generating clean solar energy and actively farming the same land at the same time. Crops, hay, and even grazing animals can coexist with solar panels, allowing landowners to earn reliable lease income without giving up their agricultural identity or their land.
What is community solar? Community solar is locally generated solar power shared across a grid to benefit nearby homes, businesses, and communities — without requiring residents to install their own panels. Projects like DiMartino Farm help deliver clean energy where it's needed most.
What is a solar land lease? A solar land lease is a long-term agreement in which a solar developer like Lightstar pays a landowner to use a portion of their land for a solar array. The landowner retains ownership of the land, continues farming where possible, and receives predictable income — often for 25 to 30 years or more.
At DiMartino Farm — owned by the DiMartino family since 1972 — all three come together. Hay fields remain in full production while single-axis solar trackers above generate clean, community-shared power. The family's agricultural legacy stays intact, and their land stays in the family.
This short film is the official documentary teaser for Lightstar's award-winning DiMartino agrivoltaics project. The full-length documentary arrives fall 2026. It's a real-world look at how farmland preservation and renewable energy aren't in conflict — they're stronger together.
At Lightstar, we develop, build, and operate every project as a long-term steward of the land — caring for the soil, the community, and the landowner before, during, and after construction.
Wondering what dual-use solar could mean for your land? Watch the DiMartino story, then start the conversation with our team.
▶️ Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzebXKkR2lQ
Contact Meghan Welborn, Director of Marketing & PR for press inquires and speaking enagagements for the Lightstar team.