SCHEDULE

As the renewable energy landscape evolves, the integration of agriculture and solar power is emerging as one of the most compelling stories in sustainability. We invite you to join us for a hands-on exploration of a truly circular ecosystem. This immersive site visit to Montgomery Sheep Farm offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how traditional livestock management and cutting-edge solar infrastructure don't just coexist, they thrive together.

What You Will Experience

• The Lambing Facilities: Begin with a guided tour of the farm's active lambing operations. Understand the lifecycle of the flock and the high standards of animal welfare that underpin a successful agricultural enterprise.
• The Solar Array Walk-Through: Stand amongst the panels to see Agrivoltaics in action. Observe firsthand how the sheep serve as a "living lawnmower," maintaining the vegetation around the panels to reduce O&M costs while benefiting from the shade and shelter the modules provide.
• The Economics of Co-Location: Engage in discussion on the "dual-revenue" model. Learn how landowners and solar developers are creating diversified income streams that protect family farms and stabilize long-term energy projects.
• Farm to Table Meal: Run by sister company, Sun Raised Foods, enjoy a gourmet 4-course Farm To Table dinner using their lamb prepared by some of the state’s best chefs paired with the best wines. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated.

Agenda

12:30 PM - Depart the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel
2:00 PM - Guest arrival and introductions
2:30 PM - Montgomery Sheep Farm Lambing Experience & Solar Array Tours
4:15 PM - Farm to Table Dinner Experience
6:15 PM - Guests depart for the Kimpton Tryson Park Hotel

Cost
$250.00 per attendee - Registration includes farm tour, welcome cocktail, 4-course dinner, and transportation from the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel.

On a local level, sustainability has remained front and center. During this opening discussion, hear from local sustainability experts who are making a difference here in North Carolina. Attendees will learn how local governments are addressing the next stage of sustainability and will gain takeaways that can apply to communities throughout the country. 

Sustainable renewable energy projects require more than clean energy generation. They demand thoughtful decision making across the entire project lifecycle, from material sourcing and construction to operations and decommissioning. As developers face growing pressure to reduce environmental impacts while meeting cost, reliability, and deployment goals, sustainability has become a central challenge in project development. In this session, panelists will cover the entire project life cycle from a sustainability lens- how are sites selected, projects constructed, evaluated, and eventually decommissioned- and share strategies for success and lessons learned to minimize project impact while maintaining project viability. 

 Despite policy uncertainty and political headwinds, momentum for sustainable, clean, and climate-resilient projects continues to grow, especially at the state and local levels. As stakeholders work to advance sustainability goals, securing investment and maintaining project bankability remain crucial to project success. In this session, panelists will explore strategies for attracting capital to state and local opportunities to finance projects in today's policy and market environment. What financing mechanisms, partnerships and policy frameworks are needed to attract and sustain investment? Attendees will learn how financial institutions, developers, and policymakers can work together to bridge the gap between climate ambitions and investment realities. 

The federal environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulatory landscape continues to evolve, influenced by legal challenges, changing political priorities, and increased scrutiny of ESG initiatives. Despite these challenges, ESG remains an important piece of the sustainability puzzle. In this quicktalk, panelists will discuss the impact of various federal, state, and local regulations and how companies are navigating the ever-changing sustainability regulatory landscape. 

As global sustainability regulations continue to evolve, companies are navigating best practices in communicating sustainability goals, initiatives, and organizational values. Experts will discuss how sustainability communications have changed, what strategies are most effective, and how they can position their sustainability messaging to enhance their business and resonate with others. Speakers will discuss strategies for reporting and how to accurately describe sustainability efforts. 

Sustainability of the solar and storage industry depends on the choices made in material sourcing. Ensuring projects are ethically sourced, is critical to addressing the social, environmental, and economic concerns connected to the solar and storage supply chain. Experts will discuss the supply chain for solar and storage, explore traceability techniques currently used by the industry, and current state of reuse and recycling options. 

Sustainability in the solar and storage industry does not exist in isolation. As companies across industries work to reduce environmental impacts, strengthen supply chains, and meet evolving stakeholder expectations, valuable lessons are emerging. What is driving this change and why is it important for companies to comply? What lessons can our industry draw from as we navigate new efforts for regulations in California and in Europe? Attendees will leave with insights into the role regulations, requirements, and other measures play in creating a more sustainable future. 

For energy projects, sustainability extends beyond supply chains and construction practices and begins with the communities that host them. In this session, a panel of community engagement experts will discuss how to engage communities, build relationships with landowners, and address community concerns around issues, such as BESS safety. Panelists will share how to develop strong community benefit agreements, discuss effective communication strategies, and how to ensure host communities receive the benefits that come with hosting a project. 

After the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, new regulations have impacted how companies approach sustainably developing their projects. From stricter foreign entity requirements and sourcing rules to new compliance requirements for buyers, panelists will discuss best practices and strategies to navigate evolving landscape in the era of FEOC and what comes next. 

Advances in solar and storage project construction are creating opportunities to diversify land use while supporting clean energy development. As a result, conservation pressures are growing, directly impacting project development. However, the industry lacks consistency in measurement and communication of land and vegetatin managment practices. In this session, panelists will discuss emerging trends and best practices to standardize conservation strategies and enhance outcomes, such as soil health and biodiversity. Additionally, the experts will discuss best practices in standardization metrics and evaluation frameworks for tracking programs to help improve overall land management. 

As countries accelerate their efforts to deploy Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), they must also pay close attention to critical minerals and their role in the energy transition. The requirements and regulations for supply chain traceability and due diligence continues to evolve across jurisdictions. As a result, companies are increasingly motivated to align with global sustainability standards. Panelists will discuss their perspectives and processes for advancing sustainable solutions for mineral recover, processesing, integration, and recycling.

 With millions of panels expected to reach end-of-life within the next decade, recycling infrastructure must keep pace. Panelists will begin with an overview of the current state of PV recycling in the United States, examining where the industry stands today and what progress has been made in recent years. Then, they will dive into common challenges that continue to shape and complicate the recycling landscape. How are infrastructure gaps being addressed in remote locations? How are recycling standards developed to ensure a level playing field? What shared language and understanding is needed to move the move the industry forward? Panelists will address these questions and others, offering insights into policies, technologies, and partnerships driving the industry forward.   

Agrivoltaics offer the opportunity for solar developers and farmers to maximize land value through dual use applications that support both clean energy development and agricultural productivity. However, realizing these benefits requires thoughtful planning and collaboration from the earliest stages of product development. In this session, panelists will discuss the economic and operational realities involved in developing and running agrivoltaics facilities. What factors help create a favorable environment for agrivoltaic projects? What can developers do to make sure projects are set up for success? Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the lessons that can be learned from working with agricultural communities and promoting land stewardship.

As millions of PV panels reach the end of their lives, so do their components, which must be responsibly reuse or recycled to ensure environmental safety. A critical piece of this process is to identify potential environmental hazards within these products. In this session, experts will explain the role toxicity testing plays in sustainable manufacturing and development. How can these tools be used to better understand our environment and mitigate harm? Attendees will leave with an understanding of toxicity testing and the role it plays in sustaining the circular economy.

In addition to recycling, decommissioning, reusing, and repowering all play a critical role in maintaining the circular economy of the solar and storage industry. In this session, panelists will share real-world examples of decommissioning, reuse, and repowering projects, as well as the policies shaping these efforts. How is circularity measured and data managed? What strategies are proving success and where do challenges still remain? What lessons can be learned? Attendees will gain insights into how the solar and storage industry is meeting the moment with a more sustainable and resilient circular economy. 

Agricultural sustainability and resilience are essential as farmers navigate environmental challenges, resource constraints, and evolving food production demand. Recent research has expanded knowledge of climate-resilient farming practices, yet challenges remain in balancing these approaches with the economic, social, and environmental realities farmers face. In this session, panelists will explore the latest research, emerging best practices, and practical strategies for advancing sustainable and resilient agriculture systems, while supporting farm viability and environmental stewardship.