PV coverings also trap some ambient heat and regulate the surface temperature better than full exposure, acting like a greenhouse that encourages plant growth.

Folks so set on zero sum systems that they ignore synergies.

[–] TotallynotJessica@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Most of the growth in solar has been market driven. It's why Texas has a lot of solar despite them subsidizing oil and gas. It's free, plentiful energy that hits the ground almost every day. If you have boatloads of land that's not ideal for farming, yet not too hot for much of the year, it makes economic sense.

[–] sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

If the U S didn't subsidize corn for ethanol it might make even more sense to build solar instead of grow corn. And then you could grow other crops under the solar panels.