By Blake Jackson
New York's rapid solar expansion is raising concerns among farmers and agricultural communities. With significant land requirements for solar energy goals, much of which could be agricultural, the impact on farming is a major issue.
“One of the big questions is always, how will landowners, both farmers and non-farmers, respond to solar leasing opportunities?” said Rich Stedman, professor of natural resources and the environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
“Some people fear this will be the death of farming, that people are going to lease their acres for solar panels and that’ll be it - it will be an ‘exit strategy’ and that land will be lost to production. Other people have hypothesized that the additional income will enable people who want to stay in farming to do so.”
Research indicates farmers are more opposed to large-scale solar development than non-farmers, despite being frequently approached by developers. Yet, those who do lease are exploring agrivoltaics, combining solar panels with agricultural production.
Cornell CALS has launched the Agrivoltaics Research Program to explore the engineering, agronomics, economics, policy, and social science aspects of this practice. "So there certainly is interest in this idea of agrivoltaics, but people want a lot more information about what that would actually mean for their farms," Stedman says.
Max Zhang, professor at Cornell Engineering, highlights the importance of cost-effectiveness for energy consumers. "The cost-effectiveness of agrivoltaics systems is crucial to market adoption and the overall energy transition," he states.
Elizabeth Ryan, a farm owner, is exploring integrating solar panels into her orchards, seeing agrivoltaics as "the missing link" for dual cropping. Research shows agrivoltaic systems can benefit both crops and solar panels, improving efficiency and providing protection.
However, agrivoltaics aren't suitable for every farm. Larger operations with extensive equipment face logistical challenges. Joe Lawrence, a dairy forage systems specialist, notes, "The average farm size keeps increasing in New York."
American Farmland Trust is developing resources to help farmers advocate for their needs, ensuring the solar buildout becomes an opportunity rather than a threat.
“We need to change the narrative around the solar buildout and start thinking about agrivoltaics as a farm viability tool,” said Linda Garrett, New York regional director for American Farmland Trust.
Photo Credit: istock-simplycreativephotography
Categories: New York, Energy