A groundbreaking partnership is redefining the future of clean energy and sustainable agriculture in Southern California, with GRID Alternatives Inland Empire providing the solar power and technical expertise at its core.
At Cal Poly Pomona’s Spadra Farm, six adjustable solar arrays engineered and installed by GRID IE now stand above rows of romaine lettuce. Together, the 24 kW photovoltaic system demonstrates how farmland can produce both renewable energy and crops simultaneously, a model known as agrivoltaics.
The system is divided across six adjustable pole mounts, allowing each of the six solar arrays to tilt from 0 to 90 degrees for seasonal optimization. Across 72 high-efficiency solar panels, the installation is expected to generate over 800,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy during its lifetime. That is the equivalent of planting over 4,300 trees or eliminating 185 tons of greenhouse gases.
Jose (left) and Dan (right) demonstrate the capabilities of the solar arrays.
At the ribbon cutting, Dan Glasow, GRID IE’s Construction Director, detailed the system’s design and performance. “This project showcases the kind of practical, scalable clean energy solutions GRID Alternatives is known for,” Glasow said. “By pairing renewable generation with agricultural innovation, we’re proving that sustainability and productivity can go hand in hand.”
The installation includes two 5-kilowatt-hour Onyx R5 portable batteries that can be fully charged from the solar arrays in just a few hours. Each unit is capable of powering a 2,000-watt water pump for four hours, charging 300 cordless power tools, or keeping a refrigerator running for up to eight days, all with zero emissions. During the event, the batteries powered the sound system, cooking equipment, and cooling for the refreshments, showing how clean energy can support a variety of needs.
Jose demonstrates how to move a solar array for the attendees.
Jose Sandoval, GRID IE’s Certified California Residential Electrician, demonstrated how each solar array can be adjusted and repositioned to track the sun throughout the year. This flexibility will enable researchers to investigate how varying shade levels impact plant growth, soil moisture, and energy production.
Victoria Pacheco introduces GRID at the ribbon-cutting.
Victoria Pacheco, GRID IE’s Community Development Officer, introduced GRID Alternatives during the ceremony, highlighting the organization’s broader mission. “We’re proud to power a research project that shows what’s possible when clean energy meets creative thinking,” Pacheco said. “This collaboration proves that solar energy can drive environmental progress, educational opportunity, and community resilience all at once.”
Developed in partnership with Pitzer College’s Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability, Cal Poly Pomona’s Huntley College of Agriculture, and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, the installation represents the first agrivoltaics research site in Southern California focused on commercial crops.
State Deputy Agriculture Secretary Virginia Jameson cuts the ribbon, along with Conservancy Fellow and Project Co-Principal Investigator Rose Olivas, Redford Conservancy Director Susan Phillips, Cal Poly Associate Professor Aaron Fox, Cal Poly's Huntley College of Agriculture Dean Ethan Orr, and Cal Poly undergrad Richard Connelly, Conservancy Fellow.
At the event, California Department of Food and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Virginia Jameson called the project “a real-world example of how innovation and stewardship can thrive together,” noting its importance for family farmers and climate-smart agriculture across the state.
For GRID Alternatives Inland Empire, the Spadra Farm project embodies the organization’s commitment to advancing renewable energy access while inspiring a new generation of clean energy leaders.