(Presentation March 7th, 2020)

New York State has passed some of the most ambitious renewable energy goals in the nation. Under former Governor Andrew Cuomo the state committed to an 85% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2050 and to sourcing 100% of its electricity from clean sources by the year 2040. The state’s plan is to help consumers make more informed energy choices, develop new energy products and services while protecting the environment.

In order to do this companies are investing in new large scale renewable energy facilities throughout upstate New York. Herkimer county is right in the middle of one of the most desirable locations for these facilities due to its proximity to power transmission lines crossing the state.

Farmers and landowners are being solicited to lease their property by solar developers. Potentially this can create a sustained income stream for property owners to help support the land ownership costs.

Solar leases are long term commitments, usually running 20 years with another 20 renewable that will take up many acres of land. A workshop for land owners was held on March 7th, 2020 at Herkimer Community College. Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension – Herkimer County, Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Otsego County Conservation Association and the College it brought together experts in the fields of land use, economics, legal concerns and solar grazing to present the latest information for landowners considering leasing.

Solar workshop presentations:
1. New York’s Solar Electricity Goals and Agriculture, David Kay, Cornell University

2. Siting Solar Energy Facilities, Jennifer Manierre, New York State Energy Research Development Authority

3. Municipal Planning and Solar Energy Facilities, Matilda Larson, St. Lawrence County Planning Office

4. Co-Location of Solar Facilities and Agriculture, Lexie Hain & Caleb Scott, American Solar Grazing Association

5. Legal Consideration of Solar Leases, Kevin Overton, Harris Beach PLLC

6. Solar Development and Agricultural Laws, Jason Mulford, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Here are some additional resources on solar leasing:

American Solar Grazing Association

Cornell Cooperative Extension – Sullivan County
Solar Leasing Q & A

Cornell Cooperative Extension – Capital Area Agricultural & Horticultural Program
Issues with Solar Leases

New York Farm Bureau:
Leasing Your Farmland for Wind & Solar Energy Development

New York State Energy Development Authority:
Solar Leasing Fact Sheet & Solar Guide Book

Solar Leasing in Agricultural Districts

Solar Energy Industry Association:
Land Leases for Solar

In a continued collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania, and Farm Bureaus of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York this series of webinars will explore the continued push for development of solar energy projects in agricultural areas of the Northeast. This five part series will address the topic from multiple perspectives and help to identify the opportunities and challenges as well as currently known best practices for integrating the need for renewable energy with other economic and social factors.

Session #1 Video – Impacts of Large-Scale Solar on Rural Communities – A Research Perspective

Research into this topic is still relatively new; however, initial studies offer some insight into how the perceptions, impacts and opportunities around solar and land use. This session will explore current finding on key issues in rural communities, decision making metrics being developed through this research and how communities can integrate these metrics. Additionally, the potential tradeoffs between energy and agriculture and emerging opportunities in agrivoltaics will be discussed.

Local Law for Solar Project Development in Pennsylvania – Slides
Economic Impacts of Solar on Rural Communities – Slides

Session #2 Video – Solar and Agriculture – A Company’s Perspective on the Challenges and Pathways to Successful Integration of Both

Developers of large-scale solar facilities are interested in optimizing the use of the land within the project footprint and continue to work to understand the opportunities and challenges of agrivoltaics, or dual use, setups. The session will also explore the key aspects of the decision-making process developers use for site selection and how they weigh these factors against impacts on land use, particularly when the location contains soil types identified as prime for agriculture production.

Agrivoltaics – Slides
Solar and Agriculture – Slides

Moderator: Jeff Williams, NY Farm Bureau JWilliams@nyfb.org

Panelist:

• Marguerite Wells, Invenergy MWells@invenergyllc.com;
• Josh Bennett/Kevin Campbell, EDF   Josh Bennett: Bennett@edf-re.com Kevin Campbell: Kevin.Campbell@edf-re.com
• Iain Ward, Solar Agricultural Services iain@solaragservices.com

Session #3 Video –  A Farmer’s Perspective on Solar

Farmers who have looked closely at solar electricity production on their land will discuss their experiences with developers, and their perceptions of the benefits and challenges of solar for agriculture.  Discussion will include differences in the scale of solar projects, how solar might impact farmers in varied circumstances, and ideas for optimizing the benefits of a nd mitigating the challenges of solar for agriculture.

A Community Perspective on Solar in New York State – Slides

Speakers:

• Alan Zepp – aczepp@gmail.com  see Ag mentor program launches in Pennsylvania (farmprogress.com) and LinkedIn
• Klaas Martens – kandmhfarm@lakevieworganicgrain.com see Meet This Third-Generation Farmer Who Converted His 1,400 Acres to Growing Organic Food – EcoWatch
• Ray Dykeman – raymond.dykeman@gmail.com see New York Employers Are Eager to Hire Migrants. They Can’t. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Moderator: David Kay

Session #4 Video – A Community Perspective on Solar

Expanding out beyond the impacts to individual landowners, solar develop can have broader opportunities and challenges for the rural, agricultural based communities that host them. This session will offer observations and ideas for the community level on best practices for successfully integrating solar as a land use. When it is a competing land use and when it can be a complementary land use.

Speakers:

• Katie Malinowski is the Executive Director for the Tug Hill Commission, beginning her career there in 1998 as a natural resources specialist. She leads the state agency’s work with local governments and other partners in planning, natural resources, and community development. She received her MS in Environmental Science – Water Resources from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.  Her undergraduate studies were completed at SUNY Binghamton with a BA in Environmental Studies.
• Matt Johnson is the Planning Director for the Tug Hill Commission and has over 25 years’ experience working with small rural communities in the Tug Hill region on a wide variety of planning and land use issues. Matt assists communities with comprehensive plans, zoning laws, subdivision laws, and GIS projects. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University in 1993 and a Master’s Degree from Boston Architectural College in 2018. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
• Matthew Smith is a Planner at the NYS Tug Hill Commission using his technical knowledge to help local governments through the comprehensive plan, zoning code and subdivision law update processes. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in History from Siena College. Matthew has completed an update to the “Planning for Offsite Solar” technical paper for the commission, has given a presentation on the progress and scale of solar buildout for local farmers interested in solar sheep grazing, and has recently completed a regional soils map intended to be a tool for local officials to protect their natural assets and better site incoming solar facilities.

Moderator: Lily Guthrie

Session #5 Video – Question and Answer

A Q&A to cover any and all of the previously presented material in Sessions 1-4 featuring the speakers from this series.

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