Provides that priority shall be given to certain sites when developing renewable energy generating projects

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Michelle Hinchey says this is needed

New York farmland is under threat. According to a 2024 report by the Comptroller, the State lost 14% of its farms and 9% of its farmland to other uses between 2012 and 2022. New York has taken important steps to balance our solar and renewable energy priorities with farmland protection, including review standards intended to protect the highest quality soil. However, further work is needed to ensure that farmland and food security are maintained as we expand renewable generation capacity. Existing laws related to solar siting give "priority" to siting on a variety of non-farm locations, such as previously-developed sites or brownfields. This bill expands and clarifies the intent by listing addi- tional non-farm locations such as parking lots, warehouses, and other locations. Current project siting law also makes several references to "agrivolta- ics." This is the emerging practice of dual-siting solar generation with working agricultural production, such as placement of solar panels over croplands or at a height sufficient for cattle to walk under. The State has funded a small pilot program at Cornell for such projects pursuant to Agriculture and Markets Law section 151-j, but lacks a statutory definition of the term. The vagueness of existing law may allow for projects that actually reduce agricultural production to be considered agrivoltaics, such as if cropland is taken out of use for solar panels but the developer puts bee boxes on the panels and calls it "agricul- ture?' Therefore this bill adds a clear definition of "agrivoltaics" that has been crafted in partnership with farmland protection organiza- tions and solar developers to represent best practices in this cutting edge field.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.