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Growing the Agrivoltaics & Ecovoltaics Workforce: Training, Pathways, and People Powering Dual-Use Solar

Thursday, April 23, 2026 (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM) (EDT)

Description

As agrivoltaics and ecovoltaics continue to expand, the need for a skilled, cross-disciplinary workforce has never been greater. These projects require talent that understands not only solar development and operations, but also land stewardship, agriculture, ecology, and community engagement.

This webinar will explore how the clean energy industry can build, train, and scale a workforce equipped for dual-use solar. Panelists will discuss emerging roles, training models, and pathways for bringing more people into agrivoltaics and ecovoltaics — including workers from agricultural, environmental, and traditional solar backgrounds.

We are grateful to have such a strong group of speakers joining us for this session.

Registration Information

CHESSA Members: Free
Non-Members: $30

Not a member? Join CHESSA to access this webinar and other member-only programming throughout the year.

Speakers:

Jess Gray, Grays Lambscaping

Jess Gray is the CEO of Gray’s LAMBscaping, LLC, overseeing the company’s financial management, policy development, logistics, and reporting. She is crucial in guiding the company towards sustainable agriculture and solar grazing goals. As a 2023 Nuffield International Agricultural Scholar, Gray has represented her company in over half a dozen countries, focusing her research on integrating solar energy with livestock grazing. This innovative approach has drawn interest from various sectors looking at the environmental sustainability and economic viability of ranching in the context of climate change and shifts in land ownership. Gray has been a board member for the American Solar Grazing Association since 2024.

Savannah Whitfield, Okovate Sustainable Energy

Savannah Whitfield is the Founder and COO of Okovate Sustainable Energy, where she champions agrivoltaics as a smarter way to deploy solar—without taking farmland out of production. With a background in chemical engineering, Savannah began her career at Black Bear Energy, helping guide the company from startup through acquisition. Along the way, she gained deep experience in solar development, startup operations, and building mission-driven businesses from the ground up.

Stacie Peterson, PhD, American Solar Grazing Association

Stacie Peterson is the Executive Director of the American Solar Grazing Association. She is a nationally recognized leader in agrivoltaics and previously served as the developer and Director of the AgriSolar Clearinghouse, a DOE-funded agrivoltaics education, communications, technical assistance, and outreach program. She has developed and led national, regional, and state-level sustainable energy programs that engage communities, support rural businesses, and provide education, engineering, and technical assistance

Allison Wickham, Siller Pollinator Company

Regardless of the fact her parents were suburban IT professionals, Allison entered this world obsessed with creatures and the outdoors. Often covered in mud and bug bites, she worked on horse farms through her teenage years. After graduating from James Madison with degrees in chemistry, environmental science, and geography, she booked a one-way flight to Hawaii to work on a tropical farm and learn beekeeping. Allison then solidified her agricultural education with a master's degree in soil and crop science from Colorado State. She worked as a land manager for the dairy industry and a soil fertility consultant for corn and soybean farmers before starting her own pollinator focused business. As an emerging leader in the solar pollinator space, Allison helps the industry optimize the land they use with pollinator habitat and solar apiaries. .

Lauren Glickman, encore Renewable Energy

Lauren serves as the VP of Policy and Communications for Encore Renewable Energy, bringing over two decades of experience in clean energy and climate change advocacy. She has a distinguished track record for implementing high-impact communication and marketing campaigns that drive the industry forward. Lauren currently serves as Chair of the Energy Storage Division on the Board of Directors for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Originally elected to the Board in 2023, she recently transitioned from her role as Vice Chair to lead the division. Her influence in the sector has been widely recognized; she was awarded a Platinum Cleanie Award as a “Rising Star” and earned a spot on the #Solar100, a ranking of the most influential leaders in the solar industry.