Oklahoma Farm Report intern Haden Snelson spoke with state Rep. Mike Dobrinski at the Oklahoma Solar Summit in Stillwater on Friday about the opportunities and challenges facing agricultural producers as solar development continues to expand across the state.
Dobrinski, R-Okeene, represents House District 59 in northwest Oklahoma. He discussed the potential benefits of combining solar energy production with traditional agricultural practices, an approach known as agrivoltaics.
“I think that solar is very much needed,” Dobrinski said. “We have embraced renewables in Oklahoma for the last 25 years with wind and solar.”
However, he noted that solar development presents different challenges than wind energy, particularly when it comes to the amount of land required for large-scale projects.
Unlike wind turbines, which allow much of the surrounding acreage to remain in agricultural production, conventional solar installations can occupy significant portions of productive farmland.
Dobrinski said agrivoltaics could provide a solution by allowing producers to continue grazing livestock or growing certain crops beneath and around solar panels.
“That is a win-win for everyone,” Dobrinski said, particularly for producers struggling financially to maintain their operations.
He pointed to declining profitability in wheat production and recurring drought conditions in western Oklahoma as reasons producers are searching for alternative sources of income.
“In my particular district, we’re experiencing drought for the third time in five years,” Dobrinski said, adding that Oklahoma’s abundance of sunshine will likely continue attracting solar developers.
Beyond agricultural opportunities, Dobrinski said Oklahoma lawmakers have explored establishing a regulatory framework for renewable energy projects similar to the permitting structure used by the oil and gas industry.
“Obviously, landowner rights are first and foremost,” Dobrinski said, explaining that Oklahoma’s limited regulation has contributed to the state’s attractiveness for renewable energy development.
Although he has not observed significant abuses within the industry, Dobrinski believes additional oversight could improve transparency and public confidence.
“I think everyone would feel more comfortable if we had a structure in place of minimal regulation,” he said.
One concern involves nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, sometimes used during negotiations surrounding major development projects.
Dobrinski introduced House Bill 2999 during the 2026 legislative session, which sought to prevent public officials from being required to sign nondisclosure agreements involving certain projects with significant local impacts.
The legislation passed the Oklahoma House but did not advance through the Senate.
Dobrinski said he remains uncertain whether lawmakers will revisit the issue, noting that some developers may voluntarily move away from those agreements.
Despite concerns about land use and regulation, Dobrinski highlighted the economic benefits large solar developments can bring to rural communities, particularly through property tax revenue.
He pointed to the Skeleton Creek project in Garfield County, which he described as an investment exceeding $500 million, as an example of the potential economic impact.
Dobrinski said developments of that scale could provide substantial benefits to local school districts and county governments.
However, he also expressed concern about Oklahoma’s five-year ad valorem tax exemption for qualifying manufacturing facilities.
Dobrinski served as the House author of Senate Bill 237, which would have ended eligibility for the exemption for solar generation facilities and battery energy storage systems beginning in 2028. Although the bill passed both chambers, it was pocket-vetoed by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Dobrinski said eliminating the exemption remains an important priority because of the potential tax revenue available to support public schools, health care, transportation and other community needs.
Looking ahead, Dobrinski believes solar developers may need to reconsider traditional installation designs to better accommodate agricultural operations.
He suggested raising solar panels higher off the ground to allow livestock to graze underneath while ensuring the structures can withstand Oklahoma’s severe weather.
He also stressed the importance of decommissioning and land reclamation requirements to protect property owners and communities if projects eventually cease operating.
For Dobrinski, the growing interest in agrivoltaics represents an opportunity for Oklahoma to explore ways renewable energy and agriculture can coexist.
“I’m just glad to be here, to have an opportunity to learn about the industry and the way it’s developing,” Dobrinski said, adding that he was encouraged by the excitement among producers attending the summit.
