Iowa Agrivoltaics Potential Map
Toggle map layers and switch base maps to view power infrastructure, land use, and agrivoltaics potential near substations across Iowa.
Why This Map
This interactive map identifies agricultural land within one mile of distribution grid substations that may be suitable for solar energy and battery storage projects, often combined with continued agricultural activity (agrivoltaics). Placing "small utility scale" solar+storage near substations has many benefits, including project sizes that fit the landscape and can integrate with agriculture; reduced transmission costs as power generated "behind the substation" serves all the distribution lines and customers directly; significantly increased reliability and community resilience through ability to "island" and serve the local grid even when the transmission grid is compromised; and community economic benefits through farmer lease payments, local job creation, ownership opportunities, and energy dollars kept local.
Summary Statistics
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Data Sources
Substations:
Source: OpenStreetMap
List of Substations: Google Sheets
GIS Data Export: Overpass API
Note: The OpenStreetMap basemap includes power lines, transmission lines, and substations from OpenStreetMap contributors. These are displayed in addition to the substation data layer.
Electric Service Boundaries:
Source: Iowa Utilities Commission
Parcels (Winneshiek County):
Source: Winneshiek County Assessor
Land Use ( ≥20 acres):
Source: USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer (CDL) 2024
Soil Data (CSR & Prime Farmland):
Source: USDA NRCS Gridded Soil Survey Geographic (gSSURGO) Database
Pasture includes:
Other Hay, Grassland/Pasture
Cropland includes:
Alfalfa, Corn, Sorghum, Soybeans, Barley, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat, Dbl Crop WinWht/Soy, Rye, Oats, Fallow/Idle Cropland
Pasture OR Cropland includes both categories above.
Land parcels filtered to ≥20 acres.