By Blake Jackson
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced over $7 million in funding for projects combining solar energy production with active farming across the state.
Through its Environmental Research Program, NYSERDA awarded more than $2 million to four projects showcasing how agricultural operations and solar installations known as agrivoltaics can coexist on the same land.
Additionally, a $5 million grant was provided to Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to construct agrivoltaic projects at its agricultural experiment stations. These initiatives aim to expand understanding of the financial, environmental, and market potential of agrivoltaics within New York’s clean energy and agricultural sectors.
“We are proud to partner with farmers, developers, and research partners to advance projects that support solar as a resource to produce energy in New York State while sustaining agriculture operations for economic growth," NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said.
"By examining different means of integrating agriculture operations and clean energy siting, we will build our understanding of the costs, benefits and market potential of locating two essential industries in the same space.”
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of New York’s economy, with over 33,000 farms covering nearly 7 million acres. Many farmers view solar energy as an opportunity to create additional revenue while maintaining productive farmland. The agrivoltaics projects will integrate solar power with activities like grazing, forage production, and specialty crops to study the shared use of agricultural land.
Among the awarded projects, the New York Power Authority received $750,000 to develop a solar array at SUNY Cobleskill, while K&MH Martens Farms in Yates County secured $185,000 for a microgrid system supporting grain processing and grazing.
Lightstar Renewables in Orange County was granted over $515,000 for a large-scale solar array supporting hay and vegetable production, and United Agrivoltaics was awarded $750,000 to integrate livestock and crops at multiple sites in Cortland, Schuyler, Tompkins, and Niagara counties.
Cornell’s CALS will also construct solar arrays in Highland and Ithaca, generating power while researching crop performance, soil health, and water management under solar conditions further advancing New York’s agrivoltaics research.
Photo Credit: istock-shansekala
Categories: New York, Energy, Government & Policy