Jul 01, 2024 —
Big solar panel installations have been going up across the North Country as part of New York’s ambitious effort to reduce our impact on climate change. Some people are concerned these solar arrays are displacing farmland, but a new state grant for agrivoltaic projects could help.
Agrivoltaics is the practice of using land for both agriculture and solar production. It could be an important part of how New York meets green energy goals while protecting farming in places like the North Country.
NYSERDA, New York’s clean energy agency, recently announced a 5-million-dollar funding increase for agrivoltaic projects. Farmers, researchers, solar companies, nonprofits, and even local governments can apply and receive up to $750,000 per project.
NYSERDA’s Jeremy Magliaro said the grant program only pays for making solar panels compatible with farming, not for the actual solar panels themselves.
“If you want to raise the height of your solar panels on a portion of your project by four feet to accommodate cattle grazing or a specific piece of agricultural equipment, this money would be eligible.”
Magliaro said the most common agrivoltaic practice in New York is sheep grazing. There’s not a lot of information available for when farmers want to try something else.
Magliaro said that’s one of the reasons that NYSERDA is prioritizing projects that don’t include sheep grazing, and using them to collect data.
“The data collected from these demonstration projects will be shared with all stakeholders including local and state policymakers and regulatory agencies to further our collective understanding of agrivoltaic practices.”
He said the ultimate goal of the research is to ensure that all farmers have the information and support they need to make agrivoltaics possible on their land.
Applications for the funding are being accepted through September 12.
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