Nicolette Taylor
Nov 10, 2025
New York’s agrivoltaic push could redefine what it means to “farm the sun”, keeping rural land productive while powering a cleaner, greener future.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced over $7 million in funding to support projects that combine solar energy with agriculture, known as agrivoltaics. The initiative aims to show that farmland can produce both food and clean energy, strengthening rural economies while advancing the state’s climate goals.
Over $2 million will fund four demonstration projects testing solar systems that allow continued crop growth and livestock grazing beneath or between panels. Another $5 million will go to Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to build agrivoltaic research sites and study how different solar designs affect crops, soil, and water use.
New York’s 33,000 farms cover nearly one-fifth of the state’s land, making this dual-use approach crucial for balancing renewable energy expansion with farmland preservation. NYSERDA hopes these projects will identify practical models that work for farmers statewide.
Example projects include:
SUNY Cobleskill (Capital Region): A 1.5 MW solar array will generate clean power while supporting grazing and corn production.
K&MH Martens Farms (Finger Lakes): A 300 kW solar-powered microgrid will process grain and allow cattle grazing.
Orange County (Hudson Valley): A 3.2 MW solar array will be spaced to grow hay and vegetables beneath the panels.
United Agrivoltaics (Multiple Counties): Researching how pigs, poultry, and specialty crops can thrive under existing solar installations.
Cornell’s two sites, a 300 kW orchard system in the Hudson Valley and a 900 kW crop research array in Ithaca, will provide long-term data on productivity, shading, and soil health.
NYSERDA says this investment supports an affordable and equitable clean-energy transition, proving that renewable energy and agriculture can work hand in hand.