Event title: All about Agrivoltaics and other Solar News with Sheree Martin

Sheree will define and describe agrivoltaics and how these practices and enable and support continued dual, and even multi-purpose, use of agricultural land. Agrivoltaics allow farmers and ranchers to continue farming operations, expand into new crops and livestock production, and use regenerative practices to enhance soil health and pollinator habitat. She will include examples of research by faculty and extension programs at grant universities demonstrating the real world and practical benefits of agrivoltaics in agricultural production.

Sheree will also provide an overview of the “state of scale solar” across Alabama.
The 2026 legislative session saw an unusually high number of energy related bills introduced, amended, substituted, and enacted. As time permits, Sheree will cover these bills and newly-enacted laws.

Sheree Martin – Bio

Sheree Martin, an Alabama-licensed attorney serves as Deputy Director and General Counsel for Energy Alabama, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Based in Birmingham, Sheree has more than 20 years of experience in sophisticated business transactions and other business-focused legal work. In addition to her work with Energy Alabama, Sheree also maintains a small boutique-style law practice representing and advising select clients on business and related legal matters.

Sheree is a graduate of the University of Alabama (B.A., J.D. and Ph.D.) and the University of Florida (LL.M. in Tax Law). Sheree’s Ph.D. coursework focused on organizational development and communication, including change management. In law school at UA, she was awarded the AmJur Book Award for “Best Paper” in Public International Law.

Before taking a detour from law into academia, Sheree practiced law with Rosen, Cook, Sledge, Davis, Carroll & Jones, P.A., (later Rosen Harwood, P.A.) in Tuscaloosa where she became the firm’s first female shareholder. She rejoined the Rosen firm for two more years (2007-2009). Sheree left the Rosen firm in 2009 to take a faculty position at Samford University for six years before returning to the practice of law in 2016.

Sheree is an active member of the Alabama State Bar and the Birmingham Bar Association (BBA) and is 2025 chair of the BBA Committee on Health and Wellness. Sheree is a graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa and earned a Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems Leadership from the University of Vermont College of Continuing Education. She is also a member of the Energy Bar Association.

Sheree is a passionate outdoors and nature enthusiast, food grower, runner, and cyclist. In 2014 she helped organize and lead a volunteer coalition fighting (successfully, thus far) to prevent the mining of oil sands deposits in Northwest Alabama where she grew up and where her family owns 220 acres of beautiful Colbert County farmland.