Solar and Agriculture Resources for Local Governments

The following resources provide information for local governments looking to implement a balanced approach toward regulating solar development on agricultural lands.

Federal Resources

• Farmland Solar Policy Design Kit (USDA)
• Farmer's Guide to Going Solar (USDOE)

New York State Working Groups

• Agricultural Technical Working Group
• Farmland Protection Working Group
  • Interim Report

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM)

• Article 25AA of NYS Agriculture and Markets Law
• Guidelines for Agricultural Mitigation for Solar Energy Projects
• Guidelines for Solar Energy Projects - Construction Mitigation for Agricultural Lands 
• Farmland Protection Planning and Implementation Grants
• NYSDAM Agricultural Assessment Information
• Notice of Intent Process
• Guidelines for Review of Local Laws Affecting Small Wind Energy Production Facilities and Solar Devices
• Dual-Use Solar
  • Pollinator Protection Plan
  • NYS Utility Corridor Pollinator Habitat Guidelines

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

• Understanding Solar Installations in Agricultural Districts 
• Solar Guidebook for Local Governments
  • Clean Energy Siting
  • Solar Installations on Agricultural Land
  • SEQR for Solar
  • Solar Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes (PILOT)
    • Model Solar PILOT Law
    • Model Solar PILOT Agreement for Single Jurisdiction
    • Model Solar PILOT Agreement for Multiple Jurisdictions
  • Model Solar Energy Local Law
  • Landowner Considerations for Solar Land Leases
  • Decommissioning Solar Panel Systems
• NYSERDA Agricultural Assessment Information
• NY-SUN Program
  • NY-Sun Solar Guidebook for Local Governments in New York State
• Solicitations for Large-Scale Renewables
• Clean Energy and Your Comprehensive Plan Guide
• NYS Battery Energy Storage System Guidebook

New York State Office of Renewable Siting (ORES)

• ORES Regulations
• Permit Applications
• Article 10 Review Process

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

• Solar Panel Construction Stormwater Permitting/SWPPP Guidance

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance

• Conversion of Agricultural Lands Guidance
• Agricultural Assessment Information
• Appraisal Methodology for Solar Wind Energy Projects
• NYS Real Property Tax Section Law 487

Other Resources

• Smart Solar Siting Principles and Examples of Land Use Laws that Support Renewable Energy While Protecting Farmland (American Farmland Trust)
• Low-Impact Solar Development Strategies Guidebook (inSPIRE)
• Commercial Solar Development on Farmlands (Sustainable Development Code)
• Considerations When Leasing Agricultural Land to Solar Developers (Cornell University)
• Sustainable Farm Energy (Cornell Small Farms Program)
• Agrivoltaics (Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems)
• Mount Morris Agrivoltaic Study (Agrivoltaic Solutions LLC)
• American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA)
• Planning with Agrivoltaics in Mind (Cornell University)
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3

Clearinghouses

• Farmland Information Center
• National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA)
  • Census of Agriculture
• EAF Mapper (NYSDEC)